Russia and Cuba Look to Renew Old Alliance

In a move that is being viewed as part of a larger strategy by Russia to increase its influence closer to the United States, Russian leaders are meeting with Cuban leaders in Moscow to renew their alliance and project the strength of the Cold War powerhouses. It seems that with the inauguration of Barack Obama, the entire world may be reshuffling the deck of international diplomacy and relations. Clearly, the U.S. has its hands full with the Global War on Terror and its tangential issues with Iran and conflict in the Middle East.

That makes it a great time for Russia to reinforce its influence in Central and South America - and that process will always begin with Cuba. The unique geographic position of Cuba, just off the coast of Florida, makes it the perfect nuisance for the U.S. It also secures a valuable bargaining chip that Russia will hold whenever it engages the U.S. in negotiations in other areas.

Cuban President Raul Castro is scheduled to visit Moscow near the end of the month. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev recently visited Central and South America in November, and the Russian navy visited the Caribbean to perform exercises with the Venezuelan navy. The diplomatic push into the region is significant for Russia, as it is focusing on strengthening its access to oil, gas, metals and access to nuclear energy.

As most of the world is waiting to see how the new Obama Administration is going to address world issues, the Russians are making early moves to increase their global reach and potential leverage when its their turn to sit down with the Americans.