January 21, 2026 — Dalena Reporters
Havana, Cuba — As geopolitical tensions intensify between the United States and Cuba, Russia’s Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev arrived in Havana on Tuesday for a high-profile visit, reinforcing Moscow’s support for its longtime Caribbean ally in the face of renewed pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump. The visit highlights deepening strategic ties between Havana and Moscow, even as Washington’s rhetoric toward Cuba grows increasingly confrontational.
Kolokoltsev’s arrival in Cuba — a rare show of solidarity at a senior level comes against the backdrop of Trump’s recent warnings that Cuba’s government “is ready to fall” unless it accedes to unspecified demands from Washington. Trump has threatened punitive actions similar to those taken against Venezuela, whose socialist government was recently overthrown by U.S. forces, a campaign that resulted in the death of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and heightened tensions across the region.
In comments to Russian state television shortly after landing, Kolokoltsev labelled U.S. actions in Venezuela as “unprovoked armed aggression” and stressed the need for countries like Russia to support one another against external pressure. He said strengthening cooperation with Cuba particularly on security, law enforcement and crime control was a priority during his visit, which the Russian embassy in Havana confirmed will include a series of bilateral meetings.
Russia and Cuba share a long history of political and military cooperation dating back to the Cold War era. Both nations have faced Western sanctions Moscow after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and Havana for decades due to its communist governance and strained relations with Washington. In recent years, Russia has sought to broaden its alliances in Latin America and beyond, with Cuba remaining a key strategic partner.
Cuba, meanwhile, continues to grapple with one of the worst economic crises in decades, exacerbated by declining tourism, restricted access to foreign capital and ongoing U.S. sanctions targeting budgetary inflows and energy supplies. Russian support, whether symbolic or practical, could provide Havana with political cover and material assistance at a moment of growing isolation.
U.S. officials have signalled increased military and diplomatic engagement in the Caribbean in response to these developments. The U.S. chief of mission in Cuba reportedly met with the head of the U.S. Southern Command in Miami to discuss regional security, which has seen recent U.S. operations against vessels allegedly linked to drug trafficking and tanker seizures related to Venezuelan oil shipments.
Trump’s statements suggest that Havana could face economic and political consequences if it does not align more closely with U.S. interests, particularly regarding access to Venezuelan oil and the reshaping of alliances involving Russia, China and Iran. With Russian and Cuban leaders now working to deepen cooperation, the Caribbean is emerging as a flashpoint in broader U.S.–Russia geopolitical competition.
Analysts say the minister’s visit is likely intended to send a clear message that Cuba is not alone in confronting U.S. pressure an effort to reassure both Havana’s political establishment and Moscow’s regional partners. As the standoff continues, diplomatic engagement and strategic posturing from multiple global powers suggest the Caribbean may play an outsized role in shaping geopolitical alignments over the coming year.