Russia to Loan Cuba $50 Million to Buy Weapons

Russia will grant Cuba a loan of $50 million to buy defence equipment such as armored vehicles and helicopters.

Document approving the purchase are expected to be signed during the Cuban-Russian intergovernmental commission on trade and scientific-technical cooperation to be held in Havana tomorrow, Kommersant newspaper reported Saturday quoting unnamed Russian sources.

The Russian delegation will be headed by Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov. He will be accompanied by a sub-group from the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation headed by Deputy Head of the Service Anatoly Punchuk.

According to the newspaper, the preliminary documents on the package of agreements in the sphere of Military-Technical Cooperation have already been signed. Moscow will grant Havana a loan of $50 million for the purchase of weapons under a series of contracts.

The purchase will include spare parts, tools and accessories, as well as facilities for previously supplied equipment, the source said. In addition, Havana plans to purchase industrial equipment under separate contracts.

In addition, a project on small arms manufacture in Cuba would also be a part of the negotiations.