Russian base to close within weeks

Cuba was a vital Cold War ally of Moscow

The Russian Defence Ministry says it plans to dismantle a radar base in Cuba next month, despite Cuban objections to the closure.

Antonov transport planes will fly the equipment back to Russia, starting in mid-January, according to a statement released on Saturday.

The decision to close the base, which Russia has maintained on the Caribbean island for 40 years, was announced in October by President Vladimir Putin, who said it was too expensive.

Putin: Shutting base will save money

The Cuban authorities were dismayed by the move, saying the closure constituted a grave threat to the island's security.

The base at Lourdes, about 20 km (12.5 miles) from the Cuban capital, Havana, was set up after the Cuban missile crisis to monitor US military moves and communications.

About 1,500 Russian technicians and military personnel and their families live and work at the base, which costs Moscow $200m a year to rent.

When the closure was announced, the Russian chief of staff, General Anatoly Kvashnin, said: "It costs $200m a year in rent to Cuba. For that amount, we can buy and launch 20 military satellites into space."

But, in an official statement, the Cuban authorities said Mr Putin wanted the radar base shut down as "a special present" to US President George W Bush ahead of a meeting between the two men

Sore point

The US welcomed Russia's announcement as another sign the Cold War was over.

The base, which houses radar and electronic equipment, was a sore point in Russia-US relations.

The US said the base had been used as a centre for spying on its operations and the US Congress voted last year to restrict financial aid to Russia unless it closed the base.

Denying the US spy claims, Moscow has always made clear it sees the base as vital for checking whether the US has complied with disarmament treaties, and for monitoring missile launches.

Mr Putin has stressed the decision does not mean its relations with Cuba - a key Cold War ally - are being scaled down.

A naval base at Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam is also being closed.

The closure of the Cuban base came as something of a surprise - only last year Mr Putin visited and told staff they played an important role in government decision-making.