Moscow and Havana have recently stepped up trade, economic and military ties. As a result, direct flights between the countries have reopened, Russian officials at all levels regularly visit the island, Havana accepts Russian payment cards Mir, and Moscow has been massively supplying oil and various industrial supplies.
Furthermore, the Russian naval ship Perekop made a visit to the island a month ago, while China was authorized to build an alleged “secret espionage facility” in Cuba – something that is a “provocation” and a “challenge to the US,” Suri believes.
In his view, “continued Russian military escalation south of Florida” threatens the current US security strategy, which is designed to “prevent foreign interference in the region.”
These developments could set the stage for a situation similar to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. But whereas John F. Kennedy was the US president then, now it is Joe Biden – a fact that does not inspire much optimism.