Recent collaborations between Russia and Latin American countries suggest Russian President Vladimir Putin is focused on building a presence in the West, according to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.
Clapper, testifying before the Senate Armed Services Committee, was responding to a question from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, about Russian bases and assets in South America, including Cuba and Nicaragua.
“The Russians are bent on establishing both a presence in the Western hemisphere and they’re looking for opportunities to expand military cooperation, sell equipment, air bases as well as intelligence gathering facilities, so it’s just another extension of their aggressiveness in pursuing these interests,” Clapper said.
Late last year, Russia was reportedly working to re-open the Lourdes signal intelligence station in Cuba, which closed in 2002. Russia also signed a security agreement with Nicaragua last year.
