Russia Denies Reported Plan to Station Nukes in Cuba

Moscow denied reports that it was considering basing nuclear-armed bombers in Cuba in reply to US plans for a missile defense shield in eastern Europe, but said it would take measures to counter the US system. Russia's defense ministry on Thursday, July 24, denied reports that it was considering basing nuclear-armed bombers in Cuba to warn against US plans to base a missile defense shield in Europe, Russian news agencies reported. "We regard these kinds of anonymous allegations as disinformation," defense ministry spokesman Ilshat Baichurin said. The report in state newspaper Izvestia on Monday cited an unidentified high-ranking air force official as saying such bombers were sent to Cuba to counter US shield plans. The United States had refused to comment on the anonymous report but welcomed Moscow's denial of the intentions to resume bomber flights to Cuba. "That's a very good thing," said Gonzalo Gallegos, the State Department's acting deputy spokesman. Baichurin, however, suggested the allegations could have been planted by foreign countries as a cover for building up military elements along Russia's border in an apparent reference to US plans. Moscow, he said, has no intentions to threaten other states. "Russia pursues peace-loving policies and does not build military bases along the borders of other states," RIA Novosti quoted Baichurin as saying.