Russia writes of $19Billion debt of Cuba and starts tour of Latin America

www.independent.co.uk... html

Vladimir Putin started his six day tour of Latin America on Friday after Russia wrote off 90 per cent of Cuba’s debt.
The Russian Duma approved a deal last week not to collect the $32 billion (£18.7 billion), which was mostly owed from Soviet loans to its fellow Communist state.

Mr Putin told the Itar-tass news agency the remaining $3.5 billion (£2 billion) would be spent on joint investment projects in Cuba.

The country is the Russian President’s first stop on his tour, where he will also visit Argentina and Brazil for talks.

While in Brazil, he will join a summit of emerging national markets that include Russia, India, China and South Africa (BRICS) on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Mr Putin was scheduled to meet the former Communist President Fidel Castro, an enemy of the US and Cold War ally of the Soviet Union.

Under the leadership of his brother, Raul Castro, diplomatic relations with Washington have thawed.

His trip comes amid continued calls to help broker a peace deal between pro-Russian rebels and the Ukrainian Government as conflict in the east continues.
When the Ukraine crisis erupted in February, Russian Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu said Russia was negotiating with eight countries, including Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, to build military installations for Russian navy vessels or strategic bombers.

Military issues are absent from Mr Putin's official agenda in Cuba, which instead features commercial agreements, including a deal for Russian state oil companies Rosneft and Zarubezhneft to explore for off-shore oil.

Cuba claims there might be 20 billion barrels of oil in its waters, although the US Geological Survey has a more modest estimate of 4.6 billion barrels.

Igor Sechin, the chairman of Rosneft, was expected to travel with Mr Putin. He was among Russian executives targeted for US economic sanctions because of the Ukraine crisis.

Russia seems to be spreading its Influence though out Latin America , Putin also seems to have a better grasp on creating goodwill and understanding global politics far better than any other country .

Not only Russia, but China and India. America will see new Russian military installations in many of South American countries. Next China. Just like America is trying to strangle Russia with its military bases in Europe, China and Russia will do the same in South America.

a reply to: musicismagic

Russia knows what America is planning. A first strike agaisnt Russia thats why America and its proxies have being trying so hard to provoke Russia in Ukraine.

Just like America is trying to strangle Russia with its military bases in Europe, China and Russia will do the same in South America.

a reply to: maddy21
Just my own opinion, had Castro not been an influence as long as he was representative of the old guard and communism, we would not have to worry, Cuba would or could have easily been won over and become more aligned with the U.S. but that did not happen, but more diplomacy should have been taking place immediately after the fall of the Soviet Union, free travel restrictions, cigars and other products under the embargo should have been completely lifted and other gestures made.

Since this was not seized upon, here we have the Russian sphere of influence remaining in the backyard, the same with some other South American nations as well, Sarah Palin may have had something or a partial point when she referred to Putin rearing his ugly head when she was running alongside McCain but she did not mention it would be in Cuba I don't think.

Cuba and russia almost ended the world in 1961.The US is still slightly miffed about this.As far as russian goodwill I'd say the op is blissfully ignorant of things we call history.Shill...

a reply to: maddy21

Russia seems to be spreading its Influence though out Latin America , Putin also seems to have a better grasp on creating goodwill and understanding global politics far better than any other country.

I guess if you consider writing off Soviet era debt a "better grasp of creating goodwill."

originally posted by: TDawg61
Cuba and russia almost ended the world in 1961.The US is still slightly miffed about this.As far as russian goodwill I'd say the op is blissfully ignorant of things we call history.Shill...

It takes two to tango.

2nd.