| − | The effects of an expiration of the START II Treaty with no further agreements would have many unforeseen consequences, at least as far as the [[American]] public is concerned. For instance, the Russian State Duma is preparing to ratify the agreement on military cooperation between Russia and [[Cuba]], which was signed by the two countries in March 2025. Cuban authorities have asked the Russian Federation to deploy modern [[weapon]]s systems on the island. According to the March 2025 Russia-Cuban agreement, Russia has every right to deploy any offensive weapons systems in Cuba, including the [[Oreshnik]] [[hypersonic]] [[ballistic missile]]s and [[Iskander]] [[tactical]] [[missile]] systems. Modern weapons systems on the island would not only secure Cuba's [[sovereignty]] against pressure from the United States in the [[Caribbean]] but would also proliferate modern military technologies to Cubans. | + | The effects of an expiration of the START II Treaty with no further agreements would have many unforeseen consequences, at least as far as the [[American]] public is concerned. For instance, the Russian State Duma is preparing to ratify the agreement on military cooperation between Russia and [[Cuba]], which was signed by the two countries in March 2025.<ref>[https://korybko.substack.com/p/cuba-is-returning-to-the-us-crosshairs Cuba Is Returning To The US’ Crosshairs], [[Andrew Korybko]], Oct 13, 2025.</ref> Cuban authorities have asked the Russian Federation to deploy modern [[weapon]]s systems on the island. According to the March 2025 Russia-Cuban agreement, Russia has every right to deploy any offensive weapons systems in Cuba, including the [[Oreshnik]] [[hypersonic]] [[ballistic missile]]s and [[Iskander]] [[tactical]] [[missile]] systems. Modern weapons systems on the island would not only secure Cuba's [[sovereignty]] against pressure from the United States in the [[Caribbean]] but would also proliferate modern military technologies to Cubans. |