Russia deepened its alliances with communist Cuba and socialist Venezuela this week, formalizing military and strategic agreements that strengthen Moscow’s foothold in the Western Hemisphere and directly challenge U.S. influence.
On Tuesday, Russia’s upper house of parliament ratified an “intergovernmental agreement on military cooperation” with Cuba, giving legal backing to an already active alliance. The move follows earlier reports confirming that thousands of Cuban nationals are fighting as mercenaries for Russia in its war against Ukraine. Ukrainian officials estimate that up to 20,000 Cubans have been recruited, many through deceptive job offers.
Russian officials described the new pact as a response to President Donald Trump’s support for Ukraine and potential U.S. shipments of Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv. Military analyst Alexander Stepanov told the state-run Tass news agency that the deal could allow Russia to deploy “virtually any offensive systems” on Cuban soil — a move reminiscent of Cold War-era tensions.
The agreement with Havana is part of a broader push by Moscow to strengthen ties with anti-American regimes. On the same day, Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro announced the signing of a “strategic partnership” with Russia, expanding cooperation beyond defense to include trade and financial coordination designed to circumvent Western sanctions.
Russian Ambassador Sergey Melik-Bagdasarov said Maduro signed the decree “in a solemn atmosphere” on national television. Venezuelan officials said the pact seeks to develop alternative financial mechanisms that exclude Western banking systems, a step that could further isolate both nations from U.S.-led sanctions.
The Kremlin’s renewed focus on Latin America highlights its efforts to counter Washington’s alliances in Europe and Asia. Russia has long used both Cuba and Venezuela as forward operating partners, previously flying nuclear-capable aircraft to Venezuela and pursuing plans to build a military base near the Caribbean.
