Reports that Russia could soon send troops and weapons to Cuba just 100
miles off the coast of the United States finally responded to Moscow.
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said the move should be ruled out
because it would destroy Cuba's hopes of normalizing relations with
Washington.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday (1/27/2022), Medvedev said Cuba and
Venezuela are two Latin American countries that are close partners of
Moscow.
However, according to him, "Both are also sovereign countries that are
trying to escape isolation and re-establish normal relations with the US to
some extent."
Medvedev held his country's highest office between 2008 and 2012 and is now
Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council.
"We can't deploy anything there. Even if, as happened in Cuba, it is only
because of their geopolitical position, their own national interest," he
said.
He argued there should be no discussion of such a plan, as it would "trigger
tensions in the world."
Refers to the ongoing dispute around Ukraine, where Western leaders accuse
Russia of plotting an invasion. Medvedev insists his country does not want
war and that security negotiations are the only way to reduce tensions
between Russia and NATO, the US-led military bloc.
Earlier this month, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, in an
interview with RTVI said he would not rule out the possibility of building
military infrastructure in Cuba or Venezuela and it would depend on "the
actions of our American colleagues."
US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan responded, noting Russia's
military activity in Latin America had not been the subject of discussion at
recent security talks. But he said the US would act "firmly" if it did.
On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reported that President
Vladimir Putin had spoken with the leaders of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua,
and had agreed to increase cooperation with them in various fields,
including military issues.
On Thursday, Lavrov expressed disappointment at Washington's response to
Russia's recent security proposals, saying the US had refused to make
concessions on NATO's expansion in eastern Europe.
"The main issue is our clear position on the inadmissibility of further NATO
expansion to the east and the deployment of highly destructive weapons that
could threaten the territory of the Russian Federation," he stressed.
