Growing concerns as Russians make big return to Cuba
MIAMI -- Amid recent revelations that Russia is making a renewed push in Cuba, some observers are wondering if the U.S. will intervene in the situation.
"The Cuban government is desperate," said Otto Reich, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs and former U.S. Ambassador to Venezuela who is now president of the Center for a Free Cuba. "They have no money, no gas, they have no food."
The relationship between Russia and Cuba frayed following the collapse of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s.
Back in the 1970s and early 1980s, the Soviet Union was a big Cuba supporter, propping up the Castro regime's Communist economy.
But the Russians are back with big promises and the Cubans are receptive.
Russia is offering Cuba great deals on gasoline, emergency donations of wheat, promises to build hotels, increase Russian tourism flows and open retail stores stocked with Russian household products.
In return, Cuba will grant Russian entrepreneurs longterm property leases.
The closer ties means Russian banks can open and provide duty-free imports of Russian equipment. And Russian businesses would be able to take profits out of the country.
"There is the promise to open a Russian vehicle assembly plant," Reich said. "I am told they are sending personnel to revamp the spy station."
For years, the Russian government operated an eavesdropping spy station before phasing it out. There is speculation that the country may revive it, however.
Cuba watchers say we should get ready for more Russian naval ships docking in the Port of Havana as well as the possibility of Russian long-range bombers flying down the U.S. East Coast and landing in Cuba.
Others say closer ties raises the specter of Russian spy ships lingering just off the Atlantic Ocean and U.S. territorial waters.
Chris Simmons, a former official with the Defense Intelligence Agency and authority on the Cuban intelligence services, helped root out one of Cuba's most successful spies who had penetrated the highest levels of the DIA.
"It is not going to be a return to the Cold War but many of the tactics we have seen before will come back.," Simmons said. "From an intelligence and financial stand point, Havana is sitting in a valuable position to cut deals … and bring in badly needed cash in the process."
Cuba has always been active in developing valuable intelligence and peddling it, for cash, to actors not friendly to the U.S.
And what does Cuba offer in the Intelligence/espionage world?
Plenty.
The Cubans operate one on the best "on the ground" spy operations in the world.
"They can turn to the Cubans and say, 'What are the U.S. special operations community doing in this area?'" Simmons said. "And the Cubans will be able to tell them because they have been watching those units for years."
Said Reich: "It has to be taken seriously, we have to watch it. We in the past, when I was in government, we kept an eye on Cuba very carefully."