On July 12 Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Fidel Castro during a visit to Cuba.

The visit was part of Putin’s Latin American tour, and one in which he stressed the modernization Russia is prepared to help bring about for its former Cold War ally.

According to the Associated Press, Russia and Cuba “signed about a dozen accords in areas such as energy, industry, health, and disaster prevention.”

Additionally, Putin said, “We are talking about the possibility of creating in Cuba a grand transportation hub with a possible modernization of the maritime port of Mariel and the construction of a modern airport with its respective cargo terminal.”

It should be noted that Cuba–and the other countries on Putin’s Latin American American itinerary–are those that have either supported Russia in the conflict with Ukraine or have “at least not [been] overtly critical.”

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