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July 16, 2014

Russia to reportedly re-open Cuban base

Following Vladimir Putin's recent visit to Cuba, it has been reported that Russia has written off Cuban debt to Russia.

Russia is rumoured to have also made arrangements with Cuba to re-open their SIGINT (Signals Intelligence) facility in Lourdes, Cuba (250km from mainland US).

Following the 1998 economic bust, Russia wound down her large scale operations at the Cuban facility.

However, Russia ultimately closed down the facility in 2001 due to US pressure.

The US held the purse strings and refused to reschedule or the forgive Russian debt, unless the Cuban facility was shut down.

Following the passing of the US Russian-American Trust and Cooperation Act (introduced in 2000 and rapidly passed by US Senate), Russia -- indebted to the US interests -- had no choice but to close down her Cuban base.

Particulars of the Act are as follows:

Full Title


To prohibit the rescheduling or forgiveness of any outstanding bilateral debt owed to the United States by the Government of the Russian Federation until the President certifies to the Congress that the Government of the Russian Federation has ceased all its operations at, removed all personnel from, and permanently closed the intelligence facility at Lourdes, Cuba.
Legislation particulars:  GovTrackUS site - here
No further details are available as to the reinstatement of  Russia's Cuban base.

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EDIT
Since denied by Putin - further blog post - here.



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