If Russian President Dmitry Medvedev needs reminding of how times of changed when he visits Cold War ally Cuba on Thursday, he should look no further than Moscow's old Lourdes intelligence base in Havana. Once a symbol of Soviet power in Latin America and the Caribbean, the building where Russian spies once eavesdropped on the United States is now an information university teaching Cubans computer science.
Medvedev is the first Russian leader to travel to Cuba since 2000 as Moscow flexes its muscles in Latin America by signing trade, military and energy deals in Washington's traditional sphere of influence. Russia is likely to commit to rebuilding its alliance with Cuba, abandoned after the Soviet days. Russian oil companies want to drill offshore, vehicle makers are looking to boost exports and the military has talked about air defence co-operation with Havana.
Medvedev's visit to Cuba comes as US-Russian ties have frayed over the Georgia war and Washington's missile defence plans in Europe. But Cuba will likely take a pragmatic approach to renewing ties with Moscow if US President-elect Barack Obama follows through on his offers to roll back some restrictions on the island, analysts say.
The Kremlin has said Medvedev's tour is mainly about trade. Russia is looking to expand its presence in Latin America and new markets as a way to help ward off the impact of the global economic crisis battering world oil prices. Cuban President Raul Castro may visit Russia next year and Moscow has called for Washington to lift the economic embargo on the Caribbean island imposed in 1962 when Castro's brother, Fidel Castro, was in power.
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