Rumors and Denials: Chinese RTR Center in Cuba
Objects of the Soviet / Russian Radioelectronic Center in Lourdes. Photo Popular Mechanics
American media reports that China is going to build a radio intelligence center in Cuba to track the United States. According to other publications, such a facility exists and has been operating for several years. Meanwhile, officials from Beijing, Havana and Washington deny the existence of such a center or plans to build one, and exchange various accusations. How it actually works is the big question.
According to the press
The topic of China's military-political interests in Latin America and the Caribbean has been discussed in the American press for a long time. Just the other day, a new reason for such discussions appeared. On June 7, The Wall Street Journal wrote about a new stage of cooperation between China and Cuba. Information about him is said to have come from sources in the US intelligence community.
According to sources, Beijing and Havana have entered into a secret agreement to deploy a Chinese radio intelligence center (RTR) on Cuban territory. Under the terms of the document, the Cuban side will provide space for the placement of the necessary funds, for which it will receive several billion dollars. The exact terms of construction and commissioning, as well as the cost of rent, are not named.
WSJ sources say that the RTR base will appear in the northern part of Cuba, about 100 miles from pc. Florida. The reconnaissance means placed on it will allow intercepting various signals and transmissions - they will be able to monitor electronic correspondence, telephone calls, etc. U.S. military installations in the southeast of the country, as well as naval ships at bases and at sea, will be under close scrutiny of Chinese intelligence.
WSJ writes that the information about the Chinese RTR Center has worried the administration of President George. Biden. At the same time, it is not known whether the United States can influence the plans of Cuba and China and cancel construction.
American satellite filming center in Lourdes during the Cold War. Photo by Globalsecurity.org
Just a few days later, new information about Chinese intelligence in Cuba appeared in several American publications at once. Citing an anonymous source in the White House, it is alleged that the intelligence center has been operating since 2019 and is collecting information about US activities in the region.
official reaction
The official reaction of countries allegedly caught taking unfriendly steps against the United States was predictable and logical. Thus, Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio called all publications in the American media a lie. In addition, he indicated the reason for their appearance: it is precisely such press reports that create the background for maintaining sanctions against Freedom Island.
The American media did not immediately get a comment from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, but the topic was raised during the next press conference. Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin denied the accusations, and also recalled that the United States is the "world champion" in spying on third countries.
The reaction of official Washington is very interesting. Almost a few hours after the first publications, the representative of the National Security Council, John Kirby, commented on the information. He did not disclose the information available to him, but indicated that the WSJ reports were inaccurate. In addition, J. Kirby recalled that the United States is following China's activity in the region and is trying to fight it. He also assured journalists that American services are capable of ensuring security in the country and in the region.
It is curious that "news” about the Chinese intelligence center appeared a few days before the official visit of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to China. Whether reports and discussions in the media will affect the plans of the two countries is unclear. Relations between Beijing and Washington cannot be called simple now, and any little thing can spoil them further.
Ground radio facilities of the PLA. Photo by Globalsecurity.org
Historical experience
The American media report on the Sino-Cuban agreement on the deployment of the RTR center with reference to the US intelligence services. For obvious reasons, the latter are in no hurry to confirm or deny such information and disclose the details of their actions. As a result, the press has to substantiate its "news" in other ways.
As indirect evidence of the fundamental possibility of the appearance of a foreign military facility on the territory of Cuba, the WSJ and other publications recall the events of the last century. Some of these episodes are directly related to intelligence issues.
After the overthrow of the former regime, Freedom Island began active cooperation with the USSR, incl. in the military field. In 1962, in response to US and NATO actions, Soviet medium-range missile systems and long-range bombers with special ammunition were present on Cuban territory for several months.
In the same year, construction began on the Radio Electronic Center in Lourdes, near Havana. The object took up duty in 1967 and worked until 2002. According to known data, Soviet intelligence officers used radio systems to intercept communication signals from various US services and structures. The Center was one of the most valuable sources of information during the Cold War.
It is the Radio Electronic Center in Lourdes that the foreign press recalls as indirect evidence of current events. It is assumed that Cuba, having allowed a friendly state to host such a facility in the past, can do the same now. Moreover, Chinese specialists can be offered facilities and infrastructure left over from Soviet and Russian colleagues. Such assumptions and versions are not at all like direct evidence that no one can provide.
Advantageous position
It should be noted that Cuba, due to its geographic location, is indeed of military and political interest to states that are potential adversaries of the United States. In the past, the USSR took advantage of these opportunities, and now the American press and politicians suspect China of similar intentions.
Reconnaissance ship of the project "815" of the PLA Navy. Photo by the Ministry of Defense of Japan
The minimum distance from the coast of Cuba to American Florida does not exceed 150-170 km. At the same time, a lot of important military and dual-use facilities are located in the nearest areas of the United States. On the shores of the Gulf of Mexico and the Atlantic Ocean there are several major ports and bases of the US Navy. Air Force airfields and ground forces bases are located in the nearest states. Also of note is the space infrastructure on the Florida peninsula.
The RTR facilities deployed in Cuba are quite capable of tracking radio links between US installations. Accordingly, their operator receives special opportunities in terms of intelligence, which should be used to their advantage. However, it will not be easy to realize such opportunities - the US military and law enforcement agencies are aware of such risks, try to minimize them and take appropriate measures.
However, a permanent land facility in Cuba is not a mandatory and necessary condition for conducting electronic intelligence. Similar tasks can be solved by special vessels with appropriate equipment. Such pennants are in the composition of all developed fleets, including the Russian Navy and the PLA Navy. According to known data, Chinese reconnaissance ships regularly appear near North America and at US overseas bases - the goals of such campaigns are obvious.
How exactly China is keeping track of a potential adversary in the face of the United States is unknown. Moreover, they hide even the exact list of available tools and technologies. It is likely that all available objects and systems are used for this purpose, incl. intended for deployment abroad or in neutral waters.
Intelligence and politics
Thus, the foreign media once again "expose" China and publicize its "insidious plans" against the United States. This time, the WSJ and other publications learned about the alleged construction of an electronic intelligence center in the immediate vicinity of American lines. However, according to other sources, such a facility has long been built and is operating, which aggravates the situation.
The Cuban and Chinese leadership denies such accusations, and the US leadership is in no hurry to confirm the information of the press. All this may indicate that in the current situation, the leading role is played not by the military plans of third countries, but by political processes within the United States. There are forces in Washington that benefit from the "exposing" of Havana and Beijing, and right now, and with the help of such "news" they expect to solve their political problems.
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