Russia ratifies military deal with Cuba amid US escalation
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Russia ratifies a military cooperation agreement with Cuba, expanding defense ties and allowing deployment of offensive systems.
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Chairman of the Cuban National Assembly Juan Esteban Lazo Hernandez, left, and Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev shake hands during a meeting at the Gorki state residence outside Moscow, Russia, on March 28, 2025. (Sputnik Pool Photo via AP)
Russia’s Federation Council, the upper house of parliament, ratified an intergovernmental agreement on military cooperation with Cuba on Wednesday, formalizing a framework for strengthened defense collaboration between the two nations.
Legal framework for bilateral cooperation
The explanatory note accompanying the draft highlighted that ratification will facilitate the development and expansion of military cooperation, provide the necessary legal basis to define objectives, directions, and forms of collaboration, and ensure the protection of Russian personnel operating in Cuba from local jurisdiction.
The agreement allows both nations to coordinate military activities while safeguarding the interests of their personnel and national security objectives. It is worth noting that the agreement was originally signed in March 2025.
Moscow’s response to US threats
Military expert Alexander Stepanov, from the Institute of Law and National Security at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, told TASS that the ratification represents a symmetrical response to Washington’s threats to supply Tomahawk cruise missiles to the Kiev government.
“This is about a symmetrical response to the potential supply of Tomahawks,” Stepanov explained.
“The ratified agreement maximally expands our military cooperation and allows, within the framework of bilateral interaction and in coordination with the government of the Republic of Cuba, to deploy virtually any offensive systems on the island’s territory.”
Read more: US to provide Ukraine with intel on energy targets deep within Russia
Strategic implications
The move comes amid heightened tensions over US plans to enforce Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities. Moscow has warned that supplying Tomahawk missiles would represent a new level of escalation, prompting Russia to secure its strategic interests and regional alliances.
Earlier on Thursday, US President Donald Trump signaled a tougher stance toward Moscow, declaring that Washington would "get Russia taken care of somehow" as part of efforts to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. His remarks, delivered in an interview with One America News Network, come amid a deepening stalemate in peace talks between Moscow and Kiev.
"We'll get Russia taken care of somehow. We're going to get that [conflict done]," Trump said, suggesting a shift toward a more assertive US posture as the conflict enters a new and volatile phase.
Read more: Russian missiles outsmart US Patriot defenses in Ukraine: FT
