Russia considers military presence in Cuba

MOSCOW, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- A Russian analyst says the country may re-establish a military presence in Cuba in response to a U.S. move to put anti-missile defenses in Eastern Europe.

Leonid Ivashov, the former head of the Russian Defense Ministry's department for international cooperation, and now president of the Academy of Geopolitical Problems, told the RIA Novosti news agency that Moscow is feeling military and economic pressure from the West because of the missile shield plans and could respond by playing the Cuba card.

"It is not a secret that the West is creating a 'buffer zone' around Russia, involving in the process countries in central Europe, the Caucasus, the Baltic states and Ukraine," Ivashov said. "In response, we may expand our military presence abroad, including in Cuba."

The analyst made the comments after Russian Security Council chief Nikolai Patrushev and Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin visited Cuba last week.

Moscow vehemently opposes the possible deployment of 10 anti-missile missiles in Poland and a tracking radar in the Czech Republic, which the United States say is needed to counter threats from "rogue nations."

RIA Novosti says, however, that Cuban officials have shown little eagerness to host new Russian military facilities.