As both Russia and the United States appear to fall back on an increasingly Cold-War-style footing, Deputy Defense Minister Nikolai Pankov said Friday that Moscow is studying the question of reopening military bases in former Soviet-aligned states Cuba and Vietnam.
“The question is very appropriate. In fact, there is now a very quiet rethinking of decisions once made,” Pankov said in apparent reference to the Kremlin's 2002 decision to withdraw its military from positions in Cuba and Vietnam.
Until 2002, Russian ships were deployed to Cam Rahn, Vietnam and a Russian electronic surveillance outpost was maintained in Lourdes, Cuba.
As relations between
Russia and the West have collapsed over the past two and half years,
the Kremlin has been rolling back on post-Cold War agreements with
the United States. Most recently, the Kremlin announced it was ending
various cooperative efforts in the nuclear security realm.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
