History Repeats Itself: Cuba, China, and the New Cold War

On June 8, the Wall Street Journal revealed that China will build a major new spy station in Cuba. The Journal reported that:

During most of the Cold War, from 1962 to 2002, the Soviet Union operated a massive signals-intelligence site at Lourdes in Cuba. The site was less than 100 miles from the United States and gave the Soviets far better access to electronic communications in the United States than they could get anywhere else. It was the largest “SIGINT” site the Soviets operated anywhere outside the Soviet Union itself. The site occupied a remarkable 28 square miles, and more than 1,000 Russians worked there.

About the Author

Elliott Abrams

Elliott Abrams is a senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and served in the Reagan, George W. Bush, and Trump administrations.

Featured Tags

On June 8, the Wall Street Journal revealed that China will build a major new spy station in Cuba. The Journal reported that:

During most of the Cold War, from 1962 to 2002, the Soviet Union operated a massive signals-intelligence site at Lourdes in Cuba. The site was less than 100 miles from the United States and gave the Soviets far better access to electronic communications in the United States than they could get anywhere else. It was the largest “SIGINT” site the Soviets operated anywhere outside the Soviet Union itself. The site occupied a remarkable 28 square miles, and more than 1,000 Russians worked there.

About the Author

Elliott Abrams

Elliott Abrams is a senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and served in the Reagan, George W. Bush, and Trump administrations.