Cuba launches largest military exercise in five years
HAVANA. November 27. KAZINFORM Cuba's armed forces Thursday launched its largest military exercise in five years, "Bastion 2009," which would ward off a possible attack in a crisis, local media reported Thursday, Kazinform refers to Xinhua.
Cuba's regular troops, Ministry of the Interior units and the militia took part in the three-day exercise, which also involved the mobilization of ground troops, military flights and artillery practice, the state-run newspaper Granma reported.
The Caribbean nation will also hold a military parade on Nov. 29.
It was necessary to hold this military exercise given the current political-military situation, which was characterized by a confrontation between Cuba and the United States, said General Leonardo Andollo, deputy chief of Cuba's armed forces.
The exercise was aimed at raising the country's capacity to prevent a military confrontation, he stressed.
The exercise was held when relations between Havana and Washington began to thaw. U.S. President Barack Obama restated negotiations on direct mail service and immigration and cancelled financial and travel restrictions for Cuban Americans in a bid to improve relations with Cuba.
But at the same time, Washington planned to revive its Fourth Fleet, which was directed against Latin American countries and increased its access to seven military bases in Colombia, putting Cuba on alert, analysts said, Kazinform cites Xinhua. See www.chinaview.cn for full version.