By Daniel Nardini
A Russian oil tanker successfully docked in Cuba’s port city of Matanzas. The oil tanker, known as the Anatoly Korodkin, brought in 730,000 barrels of oil to the energy-beleaguered country in an effort to save the Cuban government. The fact that this Russian oil tanker was able to run through the U.S. blockade of Cuba has in essence defeated U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration. If one Russian oil tanker could get through, then another and another can also get through. We have to consider the stakes why it would have been dangerous for the United States to stop any Russian ships trying to run the U.S. blockade. If Russian ships can get through, then the American blockade is useless. On the other hand, if the United States tried to stop this oil tanker, then it could have been a major incident. The United States and Russia are still in one way or another rivals. This has been true since the beginning of the Cold War, and it continues. But the bigger question is why did Russia, with all of its problems (the biggest of course is the Russian invasion of Ukraine), move to save Cuba?
I can give three reasons why Russia still needs Cuba. The first is simply because of Cuba’s location. For Russia, it is a strategic location where Russia can spy on the United States as well as put their military there. Currently, a Russian military presence in Cuba is not likely because of Russia’s involvement in Ukraine. But then, for Russia, this might be possible in a future time. Second, Russia might still need Cuba as a springboard for ventures into Central and South America. The former Soviet Union did this, and Russia may still have an interest in doing this. Finally, Russia may still use Cuba for propping up governments that support Cuba and Russia. Cuba it must be remembered was Russia’s (then the Soviet Union) first ally in the Americas, and I doubt Russia wants to lose Cuba to the United States. Being the largest island in the Caribbean, Cuba has been for centuries a prime piece of real estate for empires. The Spanish owned it, the United States once controlled it, and Russia has done all it can to keep their influence over this island.
The Cuban government, for its part, wants to keep their link with Russia because the entire Cuban leadership wants to stay in power. For the Communist Party of Cuba, anything that is against the United States is good because it means that the Communist system will stay in control of the island. Do the Cuban people want change? Most certainly they see how bad things are in their own country. However, the one thing the Cuban people do not want are to be pawns of one superpower or another (even if Russia is not exactly a superpower now). But because of where Cuba is situated, the country will remain for some time a pawn for outside powers, and Russia still has a stake in having Cuba under a Communist government that is their ally.
Why Russia Saved Cuba
By Daniel Nardini
I can give three reasons why Russia still needs Cuba. The first is simply because of Cuba’s location. For Russia, it is a strategic location where Russia can spy on the United States as well as put their military there. Currently, a Russian military presence in Cuba is not likely because of Russia’s involvement in Ukraine. But then, for Russia, this might be possible in a future time. Second, Russia might still need Cuba as a springboard for ventures into Central and South America. The former Soviet Union did this, and Russia may still have an interest in doing this. Finally, Russia may still use Cuba for propping up governments that support Cuba and Russia. Cuba it must be remembered was Russia’s (then the Soviet Union) first ally in the Americas, and I doubt Russia wants to lose Cuba to the United States. Being the largest island in the Caribbean, Cuba has been for centuries a prime piece of real estate for empires. The Spanish owned it, the United States once controlled it, and Russia has done all it can to keep their influence over this island.
The Cuban government, for its part, wants to keep their link with Russia because the entire Cuban leadership wants to stay in power. For the Communist Party of Cuba, anything that is against the United States is good because it means that the Communist system will stay in control of the island. Do the Cuban people want change? Most certainly they see how bad things are in their own country. However, the one thing the Cuban people do not want are to be pawns of one superpower or another (even if Russia is not exactly a superpower now). But because of where Cuba is situated, the country will remain for some time a pawn for outside powers, and Russia still has a stake in having Cuba under a Communist government that is their ally.