Cuban Missile Crisis the sequel? Russia urged to reopen old Soviet military base near Havana amid US tensions - Mirror Online
Author: Will Stewart
Description: The military base was built near Havana in 1962, the year of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and was Moscow's largest foreign facility of its kind. It closed in 2002, 11 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union
Keywords: Vladimir Putin,Cold War,Cuba
Date: 2017-11-06T16:01:14Z

News

# Cuban Missile Crisis the sequel? Russia urged to reopen old Soviet military base near Havana amid US tensions

The military base was built near Havana in 1962, the year of the Cuban Missile Crisis, and was Moscow's largest foreign facility of its kind. It closed in 2002, 11 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union

- Share
- Comments

By
Will Stewart

- 16:01, 6 NOV 2017

News
The reinstatement of an old Soviet military base in Cuba could spark fears of another missile crisis (Image: Getty Images)

- Share
- Comments

Get daily updates directly to your inbox
Thank you for subscribing!
Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email

Tensions between Russia and the US could be ramped up further if Vladimir Putin agrees to reopen the old Soviet-era military base in Cuba.

The base in question, near Havana, was opened in 1962, in response to American ballistic missile deployment in Italy and Turkey.

It sparked the Cuban Missile Crisis, considered to be the closest the Cold War came to escalating into full-scale nuclear war.

The base was closed in 2002, but now, two of President Putin's key parliamentary allies are urging him to reopen the unit, just a few hundred miles from the Florida coastline.

Their calls come after the American placing of US missile defence systems close to Russia's borders.

Frants Klintsevich, deputy head of the Russian senate's defence and security committee, is keen to see the return of the base, reports Interfax news agency.

He said: "Our base on Cuba, naval and aviation, should exist. It's a key issue."

Putin in being urged to reopen the facility (Image: Getty Images Europe)

His calls were echoed by the committee's chairman, Colonel-General Viktor Bondarev, who was until last month commander of Russian aerospace forces.

He said: "I believe under the condition of increased tension in the world and frank intervention in the internal affairs of other countries - Russia's historical partners - our return to Latin America is not ruled out.

"Of course, this should be coordinated with the Cubans."

Frants Klintsevich (l), deputy head of the Russian senate's defence and security committee, is keen to see the return of the base (Image: Pasmi.ru / east2west news)

The base closed 11 years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, with Putin claiming it was too costly with Russian switching resources into spy satellites.

Bondarev also called for the reassertion of Kremlin power in Asia, too - namely in Vietnam.

"We should also think about our navy's return to Vietnam with the permission of the government (there)," he said.

Viktor Bondarev (r) believes the reinstatement of the base in Cuba is essential (Image: TV Centre / east2west news)

The Cold War base in Vietnam was also axed in 2002.

Last year the Russian defence ministry indicated a return of the military bases in Cuba and Vietnam was being considered.

Hawkish Klintsevich insisted: "Our presence on Cuba is extremely desirable.

"It should definitely be done and it should be intensified today....

The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the Cold War came to nuclear war (Image: Getty Images North America)

"Our presence should be everywhere.

"I want much more efforts to be made in this regard than is being made now, and I will even insist on that."

In April, a former paratrooper who served for Soviet forces in Afghanistan, blasted former Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon as he said Britain would be wiped off the face of the earth if it deployed a first strike nuclear attack against Russia.

Bondarev wants Russia to reopen its bases in Asia too (Image: Polit.ru / east2west news)

The former paratrooper who served for Soviet forces in Afghanistan took exception to Sir Michael's comment that "in the most extreme circumstances,

we have made it very clear that you can't rule out the use of nuclear weapons as a first strike".

He insisted that were Britain to launch a preemptive attack on a hostile nuclear foe then "not having the biggest territory, it is likely to be literally wiped out by the counter strike".

It would be "razed to the ground".

- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Twitter
- Daily Newsletter

DailyMirror

- Follow @DailyMirror

Subscribe to our Daily newsletterEnter email Subscribe
Comments
More On

- Cold War
- Vladimir Putin
- Cuba

Court case Top plastic surgeon 'killed lover by sprinkling cocaine on his PENIS before she performed sex act on him'
Andreas Niderbichler, 42, has been arrested after a 38-year-old woman reportedly collapsed and died after performing the sex act on him at his home in hospital grounds
Sergei Skripal National Security chief reveals Russia were 'spying on Skripals for at least five years' ahead of Salisbury attack
Russian intelligence had been watching the Skripals - and Moscow had tested delivering novichok using door handles
West Midlands Police Two teenage boys arrested on suspicion of murder after body of missing girl, 14, discovered in park
The girl - who died from blunt-force head trauma - was discovered in West Park, Wolverhampton a day after she had been reported missing
Animal cruelty Man caught skinning dog to sell meat for doner kebabs - and he'd "killed hundreds of others"
WARNING - DISTRESSING CONTENT: The man said he used a wire to strangle the dog in Chelyabinsk, Russia
Alfie Evans Alfie Evans latest updates: Desperate parents launch new legal challenge as protesters gather at Alder Hey Hospital
Tom Evans and Kate James want their son Alfie, who is on life support, to be transferred for treatment in either Italy or Germany
Food Vegan student explains why she's writing her dissertation on the cultural history of roast beef'
Martha Overeynder is planning to debunk a few 'roast myths' were her work - like that before the 1800s traditional roasts contained whale, swan and peacock
Grand National Aintree Ladies Day 2018: Live pictures as glamorous race fans turn out in style
Punters vowed not to let the wet weather ruin the event as they gathered for the second day of the famous race meet in Merseyside
Grand National runners Grand National 2018 full list of runners as final 40 horses are confirmed ahead of prestigious race at Aintree
Britain's most famous horse race takes place at Aintree in Liverpool on Saturday April 14 and the final list of 40 horses taking part has been confirmed
UK News Prince Philip smiles and waves but with eyes visibly red as he leaves hospital 9 days after hip operation
The 96-year-old waved from the passenger seat of a Land Rover Discovery as he headed for Windsor Castle to join The Queen
Euromillions Special EuroMillions draw on Friday 13th will create 13 UK millionaires - have you got the winning lottery numbers this time?
Thirteen people won't have an unlucky Friday 13th this April, thanks to the National Lottery

Court case Top plastic surgeon 'killed lover by sprinkling cocaine on his PENIS before she performed sex act on him'
Andreas Niderbichler, 42, has been arrested after a 38-year-old woman reportedly collapsed and died after performing the sex act on him at his home in hospital grounds
Sergei Skripal National Security chief reveals Russia were 'spying on Skripals for at least five years' ahead of Salisbury attack
Russian intelligence had been watching the Skripals - and Moscow had tested delivering novichok using door handles
Grand National runners Grand National 2018 full list of runners as final 40 horses are confirmed ahead of prestigious race at Aintree
Britain's most famous horse race takes place at Aintree in Liverpool on Saturday April 14 and the final list of 40 horses taking part has been confirmed
Petrol prices Motorists warned to top up now ahead of petrol price hikes this weekend that could affect millions
The AA is urging drivers to act now ahead of Saturday, when it estimated a wave of increases to kick in
Animal cruelty Man caught skinning dog to sell meat for doner kebabs - and he'd "killed hundreds of others"
WARNING - DISTRESSING CONTENT: The man said he used a wire to strangle the dog in Chelyabinsk, Russia
Arsenal FC What channel is Newcastle vs Arsenal? TV channel information, live stream details, odds and more
Both sides have won their last three in a row in the Premier League but something has to give as they meet at St James' Park
Will Ferrell Will Ferrell 'released from hospital' after horror two-car smash which saw his SUV flip over
The Anchorman star is said to be doing fine after the car crash on Thursday night
Grand National Grand National 2018 LIVE: Results, tips and predictions from Ladies Day as Aintree Festival reaches day two
The Grand National at Aintree has reached its middle point with an exciting day of racing to come
Stephen Hawking Neymar provides update ahead of this summer's World Cup as Paris Saint-Germain recovers from foot injury
The Brazilian is in a race to get fit for the showpiece event in Russia
Alfie Evans Alfie Evans latest updates: Desperate parents launch new legal challenge as protesters gather at Alder Hey Hospital
Tom Evans and Kate James want their son Alfie, who is on life support, to be transferred for treatment in either Italy or Germany
Top Stories
Breast cancer Brave mum dies in husband's arms after losing cancer battle days after premature birth
Tracey Keers, 33, survived long enough to meet her newborn daughter and marry the man of her dreams before losing her fight against breast cancer
Police EXCLUSIVE: Pensioner arrested after burglar death 'will NEVER return home with wife and will put house on market'
Richard Osborn-Brooks, 78, was arrested on suspicion of murder before being released without charge - he is now believed to be in a safe house under police protection
Cancer"I followed my son's lead": Heartbroken dad took strength from his “little warrior” after four-year-old’s cancer diagnosis
Russell Turner, 42, struggled to cope after little Oliver was diagnosed with a Wilms tumour, a type of cancer that starts in the kidneys
Alfie Evans Seriously-ill Alfie Evans' parents granted yet ANOTHER appeal to stop life support being switched off by hospital
Tom Evans, 21, and Kate James, 20, are preparing to ask Court of Appeal judges to allow their 23-month-old son to continue to receive treatment
UK News Prince Philip smiles but with red eyes as he leaves hospital 9 days after hip operation
Yesterday his daughter Princess Anne described him as "on good form" after she paid her father a visit
Commonwealth Games Katarina Johnson-Thompson wins heptathlon gold for England at Commonwealth Games
The 25-year-old later revealed she had battled through a calf injury to take home the title
Question Time No, a Tory minister was not caught being fed answers by secret wire on Question Time
There was a weird mystery voice. But the conspiracy theorists haven't examined the footage very closely. Here's what actually happened
Age gap Bride-to-be is 26 YEARS younger than fiance who is older than both her parents
Nervous of being judged because of their age gap, Jade Freeman, 27, and Mikey McCarthy, 53, at first dated in secret
Meghan Markle Meghan Markle revealed the one item she never travels without
Meghan Markle opened up about the one item she never leaves at home when she's travelling the world
Taylor Swift Man proposes to Taylor Swift with world's least romantic gesture - immediately gets arrested
The man robbed a bank in Connecticut, and then drove to Taylor Swift's Rhode Island mansion in an effort to propose
Knife crime Teenage stabbing victim left blind and paralysed chillingly wrote song about youngster getting knifed weeks before attack
Jamel Boyce's life hauntingly mirrored the anti-knife crime song he recorded with his father before he was brutally attacked in south London leaving him severely brain damaged
Premier League Premier League clubs vote against using video replays next season after series of high-profile gaffes
They will carry on the experiment next season with more VAR games in cup competitions
This website uses cookies. Using this website means you are okay with this but you can find out more and learn how to manage your cookie choices here. Close cookie policy overlay