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Russian Official: We Are Working on Reopening Cuba, Vietnam Bases

by VOA News

   With relations between Washington and Moscow deteriorating, Russian
   news agencies are quoting a top defense official as saying the
   possibility of reopening Russian military facilities in Cuba and
   Vietnam is under consideration.

   Asked Friday by lawmakers in the State Duma, the lower house of
   Russia's parliament, if the Russian military might return to countries
   like Cuba and Vietnam, Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov replied:
   "We are doing this work." He provided no details.

   The Soviet Union established a Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) base in
   Lourdes, Cuba, in the early 1960s and a naval base in Cam Ranh Bay,
   Vietnam, in the late 1970s. While Russia continued to operate those
   facilities following the breakup of the Soviet Union in 1991, they were
   shut down in 2001 and 2002, respectively.

   Russia is currently operating an air base and a naval base in Syria.

   According to Russian news agencies, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was
   also asked Friday about the possibility of reestablishing bases in Cuba
   and Vietnam. He refused to comment on it directly, saying the question
   should be addressed to the defense ministry.

   However, Peskov was quoted as saying: "The international situation is
   not static; it is rather fluid. You can see that the last two years
   have introduced in general significant adjustments to international
   affairs and the international security regime. So, naturally, all
   countries in accordance with their national interests are assessing
   these changes and taking certain measures in the direction that they
   see fit."

   In July 2014, President Vladimir Putin denied media reports that Russia
   was planning to reopen the Lourdes Signals Intelligence base in Cuba.

   The comments about reestablishing Russian military facilities far from
   home came as tensions between Russia and the United States grew.

   On Monday, Washington suspended talks with Moscow on a cease-fire in
   Syria, citing continued military attacks against civilian targets
   there. That same day, President Vladimir Putin suspended an agreement
   with the U.S. on disposing weapons-grade plutonium, citing "unfriendly
   actions" by Washington -- a reference to sanctions on Moscow for its
   actions in Ukraine.

   On Wednesday, Russia suspended an agreement with the United States on
   cooperation on nuclear and energy-related research.