Moscow Sends High-Level Delegation to Cuba as U.S. Ramps Up Rhetoric
HAVANA — Russia’s Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev has arrived in Havana on a high-profile visit that underscores Moscow’s support for Cuba amid mounting pressure from the United States, according to international news reports.
Kolokoltsev’s trip comes against the backdrop of recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said Cuba’s communist government “is ready to fall” and urged it to “make a deal” with Washington — comments that have alarmed Havana’s allies.
Upon arrival, the Russian official denounced recent U.S. actions in the region as “unprovoked armed aggression,” particularly in relation to Venezuela, a longtime strategic partner of both Moscow and Havana, whose leader was reportedly toppled in early January. The Russian embassy said Kolokoltsev will hold “a series of bilateral meetings” during his stay.
The visit reflects deepening ties between the two nations, both of which have faced Western sanctions in recent years and have sought closer cooperation since 2022, especially after Russia’s military actions in Ukraine.
Earlier this week, Russian officials publicly condemned what they described as “blackmail and threats” against Cuba, calling such rhetoric unacceptable and reiterating Moscow’s solidarity with the island nation.
During the Havana visit, Kolokoltsev also met with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, where they discussed cooperation between their security institutions and condemned foreign interference.
The diplomatic engagement occurs as the U.S. chief of mission in Cuba and the head of U.S. Southern Command held talks in Miami to address broader regional security concerns.
