Russia ‘to reopen Cold War Cuban listening post used to spy on America’
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Facility at Lourdes was the largest Russian listening post abroad
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It was mothballed in 2001 after relations with the U.S. warmed
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But relations with the West have deteriorated amid the Ukraine crisis
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Moscow has also shown a new interest in Latin America and Cuba
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Last week, Russia agreed to write off 90 per cent of Cuba’s debt
By Leon Watson
Published: 09:24 EST, 16 July 2014 | Updated: 12:18 EST
Russia has agreed to reopen a major Cold War listening post on Cuba that was used to spy on America, it was reported today.
Moscow-based daily Kommersant claimed Russia and Cuba have struck a deal ‘in principle’ after President Vladimir Putin visited the island last week.
Citing several sources within Russian authorities, the respected daily wrote: ‘The agreements were finalised while President Vladimir Putin visited Havana last Friday.’
The former Russian listening station at Lourdes some 20 miles south of Havana is seen in this December 2000. It was mothballed a year later but could reopen, it is reported
Moscow dismantled its radar stations in Lourdes in 2001 as part of cutting back military installations abroad. The stations were built in 1964 after the 1962 Cuban missile crisis
Satellite dishes for the Lourdes radar station, which was Russia’s biggest covert military outpost abroad. Around 1,500 Russian engineers, technicians and soldiers observed submarine activity from the base built in 1964
The signals intelligence facility near Havana at Torrens, also known as Lourdes, was the largest Russian SIGINT site abroad, but has been
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mothballed since 2001.
It covered a 28 square-mile area with 1,000-1,500 Russian engineers, technicians, and military personnel working at the base.
Russia had closed the Lourdes spy base south of Havana on Putin’s orders to save money and due to a warming of relations with the U.S. after the September 11 attacks.
But Moscow has since shown a new interest in Latin America and its Cold War ally Cuba and relations with the West have deteriorated amid the Ukraine crisis.
The base was set up in 1964 after the Cuban missile crisis to spy on the United States.
Just 155 miles from the U.S. coast, it was the Soviet Union’s largest covert military outpost abroad with up to 3,000 staff.
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (left) hugs Cuba’s President Raul Castro after a meeting at the Revolution Palace in Havana last week
Raul Castro welcomed Vladimir Putin, where they met to discuss bilateral agreements. Before that, both presidents participated together to a flower offering to the Sovietic International Soldier Mausoleum
It was used to listen in to radio signals including those from submarines and ships and satellite communications.
‘All I can say is – finally!’ one Russian source told Kommersant of the reported reopening.
The defence ministry and military high command declined to comment on the report to Kommersant.
Ahead of Putin’s visit to Cuba last week as part of a Latin American tour, Russia agreed to write off 90 per cent of Cuba’s debt dating back to the Soviet era, totalling around $32 billion.
Russia paid Cuba rent of $200 million per year to use the base in the last few years it was open.
A former head of Russia’s foreign intelligence service, Vyacheslav Trubnikov, told the newspaper the base would strengthen Russia’s international position.
‘Lourdes gave the Soviet Union eyes in the whole of the western hemisphere,’ he said.
‘For Russia, which is fighting for its lawful rights and place in the international community, it would be no less valuable than for the USSR.’
Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov was not immediately available for comment on Wednesday.
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