Echoes of Cold War as Putin eyes the Arctic
Russian leader pays tribute to Castro for standing up to neo-colonialism on day he strengthens northern fleet
‘This most important corridor will allow Russia to unlock its export potential… and to strengthen our status as a great Arctic power’
VLADIMIR PUTIN summoned the spirit of the Cold War yesterday as he unveiled a statue of Fidel Castro and launched a nuclear-powered icebreaker to help Russia dominate the Arctic.
In a snowy Moscow square now named after the former Cuban leader, the Russian president praised Castro as a great man who stood up to rule by diktat, robbery and neo-colonialism.
Mr Putin stood side-by-side with
Miguel Diaz-canel, the Cuban president who is combining this trip with visits to China. One of a shrinking number of loyal allies of Moscow, he said that he supported the invasion of Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, from the warmth of his Kremlin office, Mr Putin stood glumly to attention as he watched by teleconference a flag-raising ceremony on the Ural icebreaker in St Petersburg, a move that follows the reopening of Soviet-era naval bases on Russia’s northern shores.
He said: “Both icebreakers are part of our large-scale, systematic work to reequip and replenish the domestic icebreaker fleet, to strengthen Russia’s status as a great Arctic power.”
The Arctic has become one of the world’s most contested regions. Control of it gives access to huge oil and gas reserves as well as short trade routes between Europe and Asia.
Global warming has opened up shipping lanes and this summer Mr Putin issued a new navy doctrine that put influence over the strategically important Svalbard archipelago at its core.
In 2007, the Russian adventurer and parliamentarian Artur Chilingarov dived to the bottom of the Arctic Ocean in a mini-submarine to plant a Russian flag directly under the North Pole, sparking outrage from the US, Canada, Norway and Denmark.
The two new icebreakers will join two others already in service, giving Russia what Mr Putin said was the world’s most powerful icebreaker fleet.
Another icebreaker is planned as well as a “super-powerful” version, named the Rossiya, which he said was without a world rival.
He added: “The development of this most important transport corridor will allow Russia to more fully unlock its export potential and establish efficient logistic routes.”
There are no statues of Castro in Cuba, where he was leader from 1959 to 2008, because he said that he wanted to avoid a personality cult. He died in 2016, aged 90.
Mr Miguel Diaz-canel’s Moscow visit was rare from an international statesman since Russia became a pariah state by invading Ukraine, and the Kremlin rolled out the red carpet for him. Previously, he would have been considered a second-tier visitor.
Mr Putin has watched even previously reliable allies such as Serbia and Kazakhstan shift towards the West.
He has had to be content with visits from leaders of former Soviet states and Africa.