Zelensky’s Warning: Russia’s Troop Buildup in Belarus & Cuba’s Silent Hand in the Conflict

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has sounded the alarm: Russia is preparing to deploy 100,000 troops to Belarus under the guise of military exercises—just as it did before launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He warns that this buildup could be a precursor to an incursion into a NATO country like Poland or Lithuania. But this isn't just about Russia and Belarus. The Cuban regime, Moscow’s closest ally in the Western Hemisphere, is playing a silent yet crucial role in this escalating conflict.

In 2023, Havana signed a military pact with Belarus to train Cuban soldiers and deepen military ties. Since then, Cuban and Belarusian defense officials have held multiple high-level meetings. Meanwhile, since the start of Russia’s invasion, Cuba has actively assisted the Kremlin—amplifying Russian propaganda through its state-controlled media, working alongside the Maduro regime in Venezuela and the Ortega dictatorship in Nicaragua to undermine Ukraine’s support in Latin America, and even reportedly sending Cuban mercenaries to fight for Russia.

Moreover, Cuba hosts a Russian intelligence base, updated for modern espionage, as reported by The Insider Magazine. Diplomatically, Havana and Moscow work in lockstep to justify each other’s atrocities and exchange tactics on repression. In return, the Cuban dictatorship receives Russian oil, financial aid, and political backing.

Cuba is no longer just a regional threat—it is an active security risk to the U.S. and NATO. Its autocrats are reinforcing Putin’s war machine, deepening ties with hostile regimes, and undermining global stability. The West must wake up to this growing military alliance before it's too late.

Recent Cuba-Belarus Military Agreement:

November 2023

  • Representatives of the Armed Forces of both countries agreed on a military cooperation project and a bilateral activities plan for 2024.

  • Reports indicate that Cuba expressed interest in acquiring Belarusian weaponry, including Polonez missile launchers with a range of up to 300 kilometers.
    (CiberCuba)

January 2024

  • Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin visited Havana and signed agreements consolidating military cooperation with his Cuban counterpart, Army Corps General Álvaro López Miera.

  • While specific details were not disclosed, both ministers discussed international affairs and explored prospects for military collaboration.
    (CiberCuba)

June 2023

  • Cuban Armed Forces Minister Álvaro López Miera made an official visit to Belarus, where he met with top military officials and discussed bilateral cooperation.
    (Diario de Cuba)

July 2024

  • Cuba and Belarus signed an agreement on the mutual protection of classified information, expanding their collaboration in sensitive and strategic areas.
    (SwissInfo)

  • López Miera visited Belarus again to participate in the 80th-anniversary celebrations of the country’s liberation from Nazi occupation.

  • During his stay, he toured military facilities and reviewed the progress of cooperation agreements.
    (Diario de Cuba)

For more details on the military cooperation agreement, you can watch the following video:
Bielorrusia y Cuba firman acuerdo de cooperación militar

Michael LimaComment