Putin Pushes to Renew Russia's Influence in Cuba

Vladimir Putin is pushing for a renewal of Russia’s former presence in Cuba, the AP reports. “We should restore our position in Cuba and other countries,” the president-turned-PM said after a briefing by diplomats returned from Cuba. Though a military presence on the island wasn’t specifically mentioned, one analyst says it’s entirely possible.

An ex-defense official positioned the effort as a balancing move. “It is not a secret that the West is creating a 'buffer zone' around Russia, involving countries in central Europe, the Caucasus, the Baltic states and Ukraine,” he told an official news agency. “In response, we may expand our military presence abroad, including in Cuba.” (More Russia stories.)