Russia and Cuba sign security agreements

HeMinistry of the Interior of Cuba (MININT) and the Russian Security Council apparatus signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation in Havana, which establishes regular exchanges between both countries on current issues of international and regional security.

With the signatures of the Secretary of the Security Council of Russia, Nikolai Patrushev, and the Minister of the Interior of Cuba Julio César Gandarilla Bermejo, the text proposes agreements in the fight against international terrorism, transnational crime, illegal drug trafficking, human trafficking and smuggling.

Patrushev, who was received yesterday Tuesday by the first secretary of the PCC, Raúl Castro and the Cuban president Miguel Díaz-Canel, said that the document "will allow us to create a good foundation to continue the dialogue" in the security sphere.

During the meeting, topics such as the protection of information were addressed, while there was discussion about the surveillance of state borders, the strengthening of the coast guard and military-technical cooperation.

The text,according toSputnik, “provides for the regular exchange of opinions of the Russian and Cuban ministries and entities on current problems of international and regional security. The memorandum also plans to strengthen Moscow's ties with Havana to guarantee energy security.

These agreements come when a visit by the Russian Security Council apparatus to the Cuban capital takes place.

Despite US pressure and sanctions against the island, the Russian government has maintained support for the Cuban regime.

After his visit to Havana, Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev commented that Russia was willing tosend oil and its derivatives to the archipelago.

However, he clarified that the agreements signed during his tour did not includethe installation of a Russian military base in Cuba, a topic that, according to the premier, was not even discussed.

As a sign of good relations, Russian President Vladimir Putincongratulated his Cuban counterpart Miguel Díaz-Canel after being ratified as president of the Republic of Cuba, a position he will hold until 2023.

"I am sure that his next visit to Russia (referring to Díaz-Canel) will serve to further expand mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in different fields," Putin said.