Putin Visits Latin America, World Cup: Russian President Makes Deals with Cuba, Argentina, Brazil
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday visited on old Soviet ally when he met with Cuban leaders in Havana, according to The Associated Press report.
Cuba was the first stop on Putin's six-day, three-country tour of Latin America. Next he will visit Argentina and then go to Brazil.
While in Cuba, Putin met with current President Raul Castro and former President Fidel Castro, who ruled the country after the Cuban Revolution. The two countries signed around a dozen accords and agreements in energy, industry, health and disaster prevention, according to the report.
"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," Putin said.
Another agreement took care of infrastructure at a port project that Cuba hopes will help attract outside investment. Putin and President Raul Castro also took part in a ceremony at the Soviet International Soldier monument in Havana.
Russia also has agreed to forgive 90 percent of Cuba's $35 billion Soviet-era debt with the remainder to be invested in Cuban education.
"We are interested in strong, economically stable and politically independent, united Latin America that is becoming an important part of the emerging polycentric world order," Putin said, according to Voice of Russia, adding that Russia is open to substantive interaction with all of Latin America.
After Cuba, Putin's itinerary takes him to Argentina, where he is to meet with Argentine President Cristina de Kirchner where they will talk trade and energy. Then the Russian president will go to Brazil in time to catch the World Cup Final.
The president will attend a summit of the BRICS group of emerging nations, which is comprised of Brazil, China, India, Russia and South Africa. Putin is expected to meet with leaders of China, India and South Africa.
Putin will even be able to find some time to squeeze in a bit of soccer, as he will attend the World Cup finals on July 13, where Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff will hand over the keys of the tournament to Putin.
Russia has been chosen to host the event in 2018 and has vowed to spend billions on stadiums and infrastructure to support the World Cup.
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