Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MOSCOW1730
2009-07-01 16:09:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Moscow
Cable title:
CUBA-RUSSIA RELATIONSHIP (C-AL9-00784)
how-toVZCZCXRO3906 RR RUEHDBU RUEHSL DE RUEHMO #1730/01 1821609 ZNY SSSSS ZZH R 011609Z JUL 09 FM AMEMBASSY MOSCOW TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4114 INFO RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE RUEHXD/MOSCOW POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE RUEHUB/USINT HAVANA 0030 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 001730
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2034
TAGS: PINR, PREL, PGOV, CU, RS
SUBJECT: CUBA-RUSSIA RELATIONSHIP (C-AL9-00784)
REF: STATE 40419
Classified By: Acting Political M/C David Kostelancik. Reasons 1.4 (b)
, (c),and (d).
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 MOSCOW 001730
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2034
TAGS: PINR, PREL, PGOV, CU, RS
SUBJECT: CUBA-RUSSIA RELATIONSHIP (C-AL9-00784)
REF: STATE 40419
Classified By: Acting Political M/C David Kostelancik. Reasons 1.4 (b)
, (c),and (d).
1. (S/NF) Summary: GOR officials and outside experts told us
the Cuba-Russia relationship had not significantly changed
since Raul Castro became president, but that Cuba-Russia ties
are strengthening. Russia does not think it is harder or
easier to work with Raul Castro than it was with Fidel
Castro. MFA officials declined to prioritize the bilateral
relationships with Cuba and Venezuela. GOR officials told us
there were no plans to establish military bases in Cuba and
that Russia was unlikely to deploy any long-range aviation
assets to Cuba. End summary.
--------------
No Strong Preference for Raul or Fidel
--------------
2. (S/NF) The MFA's Cuba desk told us June 23, and outside
experts subsequently confirmed, that Russia did not have a
preference for working with Raul or Fidel Castro. As a
general trend, the MFA said that Cuba-Russia ties were
becoming stronger, but that the relationship had not changed
significantly since Raul Castro came to power in 2008.
3. (S/NF) Vladimir Davydov, Director of the Latin American
Institute at the Russian Academy of Sciences, said that
Russia perceived a difference between the two Castro brothers
in how they viewed the Cuba-Russia relationship. Davydov
told us that Raul spent more time in the Soviet Union and
Russia than Fidel and understood Russia better. Russia
believed Raul to be the more pragmatic brother, according to
Davydov, and that he did more to encourage outside investment
in Cuba from a number of sources, including Russia. The MFA
confirmed that Russia and Cuba were looking for mutually
beneficial investment opportunities in Cuba.
--------------
Russian Priorities: Cuba or Venezuela?
--------------
4. (S/NF) Both MFA officials and outside experts declined to
prioritize Russia's relations with Cuba and Venezuela.
Russia has a longer history of working with Cuba than with
Venezuela, but this relationship suffered after the end of
the Cold War. In addition, Russia has recently sought closer
ties with the Chavez regime. Miguel Palacio, an expert on
Latin America-Russia relations, said Russia's main intention
in improving ties with Cuba and Venezuela was not to
aggravate the U.S., rather to gain access to new markets in
the region.
5. (S/NF) Leaders of Cuba and Venezuela have participated in
high-profile visits with Russia officials, including
President Medvedev. Palacio said that Russia's primary
purpose from these engagements was access to the Cuban and
Venezuelan markets. Russian MFA officials emphasized that
there was currently no ideological component to either the
Cuba-Russia or the Venezuela-Russia relationship, stating
that the main basis of both relationships was economic.
6. (S/NF) Russia's bilateral trade with Venezuela totals more
than USD 700 million, while trade with Cuba totals about USD
280 million. Davydov told us that Russia's most important
partner in Latin America was Brazil, which has the largest
economy in the region. Russian-Brazilian bilateral trade
totaled more than USD 5 billion in 2007.
--------------
Russian Military Operations in Cuba
--------------
7. (S/NF) GOR officials told us there were no plans to
establish military bases in Cuba. They added that the GOR
was unlikely to deploy any long-range aviation assets to
Cuba. Russia's military relationship with Cuba would most
likely be limited to upgrading Soviet-era equipment. The
MFA's Cuba desk and Latin America experts here told us that
Russia was looking for very little militarily from Cuba,
emphasizing that the main basis of their bilateral
relationship was economic.
MOSCOW 00001730 002 OF 002
--------------
Working with Cuban Officials
--------------
8. (S/NF) When asked about their working relationship with
their Cuban counterparts, GOR officials declined to comment.
BEYRLE
NOFORN
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/29/2034
TAGS: PINR, PREL, PGOV, CU, RS
SUBJECT: CUBA-RUSSIA RELATIONSHIP (C-AL9-00784)
REF: STATE 40419
Classified By: Acting Political M/C David Kostelancik. Reasons 1.4 (b)
, (c),and (d).
1. (S/NF) Summary: GOR officials and outside experts told us
the Cuba-Russia relationship had not significantly changed
since Raul Castro became president, but that Cuba-Russia ties
are strengthening. Russia does not think it is harder or
easier to work with Raul Castro than it was with Fidel
Castro. MFA officials declined to prioritize the bilateral
relationships with Cuba and Venezuela. GOR officials told us
there were no plans to establish military bases in Cuba and
that Russia was unlikely to deploy any long-range aviation
assets to Cuba. End summary.
--------------
No Strong Preference for Raul or Fidel
--------------
2. (S/NF) The MFA's Cuba desk told us June 23, and outside
experts subsequently confirmed, that Russia did not have a
preference for working with Raul or Fidel Castro. As a
general trend, the MFA said that Cuba-Russia ties were
becoming stronger, but that the relationship had not changed
significantly since Raul Castro came to power in 2008.
3. (S/NF) Vladimir Davydov, Director of the Latin American
Institute at the Russian Academy of Sciences, said that
Russia perceived a difference between the two Castro brothers
in how they viewed the Cuba-Russia relationship. Davydov
told us that Raul spent more time in the Soviet Union and
Russia than Fidel and understood Russia better. Russia
believed Raul to be the more pragmatic brother, according to
Davydov, and that he did more to encourage outside investment
in Cuba from a number of sources, including Russia. The MFA
confirmed that Russia and Cuba were looking for mutually
beneficial investment opportunities in Cuba.
--------------
Russian Priorities: Cuba or Venezuela?
--------------
4. (S/NF) Both MFA officials and outside experts declined to
prioritize Russia's relations with Cuba and Venezuela.
Russia has a longer history of working with Cuba than with
Venezuela, but this relationship suffered after the end of
the Cold War. In addition, Russia has recently sought closer
ties with the Chavez regime. Miguel Palacio, an expert on
Latin America-Russia relations, said Russia's main intention
in improving ties with Cuba and Venezuela was not to
aggravate the U.S., rather to gain access to new markets in
the region.
5. (S/NF) Leaders of Cuba and Venezuela have participated in
high-profile visits with Russia officials, including
President Medvedev. Palacio said that Russia's primary
purpose from these engagements was access to the Cuban and
Venezuelan markets. Russian MFA officials emphasized that
there was currently no ideological component to either the
Cuba-Russia or the Venezuela-Russia relationship, stating
that the main basis of both relationships was economic.
6. (S/NF) Russia's bilateral trade with Venezuela totals more
than USD 700 million, while trade with Cuba totals about USD
280 million. Davydov told us that Russia's most important
partner in Latin America was Brazil, which has the largest
economy in the region. Russian-Brazilian bilateral trade
totaled more than USD 5 billion in 2007.
--------------
Russian Military Operations in Cuba
--------------
7. (S/NF) GOR officials told us there were no plans to
establish military bases in Cuba. They added that the GOR
was unlikely to deploy any long-range aviation assets to
Cuba. Russia's military relationship with Cuba would most
likely be limited to upgrading Soviet-era equipment. The
MFA's Cuba desk and Latin America experts here told us that
Russia was looking for very little militarily from Cuba,
emphasizing that the main basis of their bilateral
relationship was economic.
MOSCOW 00001730 002 OF 002
--------------
Working with Cuban Officials
--------------
8. (S/NF) When asked about their working relationship with
their Cuban counterparts, GOR officials declined to comment.
BEYRLE