Unlike in 1962, I seriously doubt the White House is worried about reports that Russia is thinking about using bases in Cuba to refuel its Tupelov-160 and Tupelov-95 nuclear bombers. A Russian newspaper closely aligned with the Kremlin broke the story. Clearly, Russia isn’t about to make such a provocative move. Not only does it have more to lose than to gain, but as a defense analyst in the Guardian put it, it makes no strategic sense.
Russia’s ageing nuclear aircraft have a range of 2,000-3,000kms – allowing them comfortably to fire a nuclear missile at the US from much further away, defence expert Pavel Felgenhauer said. “Frankly in Cuba they would be sitting ducks,” he added.
Russia is still fuming over US plans to house a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic (not Czechoslovakia, John McCain), so this seems like nothing more than the Russians trying to make some noise. Still, this is something to keep an eye on, because the Russians seem willing to up the ante to prevent the missile defense system from taking root in Europe.
AP
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