Russia’s Viktor Leonov spy ship docked in Cuba for a three-day stay as U.S. diplomats arrived in Havana to strengthen diplomatic relations with the communist nation.
A congressional delegation met Monday with Cuban officials in Havana, just as Kremlin defense minister Sergei Shoigu announced Russia’s desire to build bases in Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and other countries.
Roberta Jacobson, the U.S. assistant secretary of state, will hold high-level talks with Cuban officials Wednesday, The Telegraph reported.
The vessel, which also docked in Cuba last February, is a 300-foot-long ship reportedly armed with anti-aircraft missiles. It has been in service since 1988.
The newspaper reported that Russia signed an agreement with Cuba in 2014 to reopen an old Cold War-era surveillance base located 150 miles from the U.S. mainland.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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