CUBAN-SOVIET INTENTIONS IN CENTRAL AMERICA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP98S00099R000501010033-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 1, 2012
• Sequence Number: 33
• Publication Date: July 25, 1979
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/01 : CIA-RDP98S00099R000501010033-7
25 July 1979
Memorandum for Dr. Bowie
Subject: Cuban-Soviet Intentions in Central America
1. In the event you have not seen it, we call your
attention to the attached Chicago Tribune article on Cuba-
Soviet "Military Collaboration." According to this article,
Senior Ramon Sanchez-Parodi, the head of the Cuban Interest
Section in Washington, in recent public remarks to reporters
at a meeting in Washington stated that:
a. Cuban-Soviet ties "will continue to increase in
all fields, including military collaboration" and that
this applied "across the board", that is, both inter-
nationally as well as within Cuba.
b. Support (Cuban-Soviet) .for the Sandir.isnas
included arms and political advic=e.
c. Cuba intends to support revolutionary forces in
Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras with assistance "of
all sorts", including material support, advice and
diplomatic backing.
2. Assuming that the press report is accurate, Mr. Sanchez
publicly confirmed what the Intelligence Community has been
reporting for the past several months.
3. It is 'Likely that Mr. Sanchez reflects official
Cuban thinking and that the Cuban government, perhaps with
at least tacit Soviet approval, believes the US government
to be incapable or unwilling to take effective action to
counter Cuban moves against other Central American governments
or other governments in the Caribbean region.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/01_CIA-RDP98S00099R000501010033-7
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/01 CIA-RDP98S00099R000501010033-7
CONFIDENTIAL
Subject: Cuban-Soviet Intentions in Central America
4. In any event, Mr. Sanchez' message to the United
States, Latin America and the world is blunt and blatant.
The political and psychological impact of this message
on the US public as well as US stature and prestige inter-
nationally could be profound. The Panel suggests that , if
you have not already done so, you bring this to the Rttenti.on
of the DCI with the recommendatic.rn that it be tic sub i ect of
an early briefing for the President.
1
25X1,
Wi ial ,eon art
Attachment:
As stated
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/01: CIA-RDP98S00099R000501010033-7
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/01 : CIA-RDP98S00099R000501010033-7
V,,, #&- 21 July 1979
/'.:.i,:--~ THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE
CubaSoyiet `~ilitary collabaration'
pnmised by, Castro's enyoy to U.S.
By John Maclean
-('nlcago Tn Sla? Pr? S.MCQ
IVArrLNGTON--C intends to In-
crease its "milits7-i;japrgtipp l
.Cuba . and,
UtCMn4t nally,. Ramon Sanchez-Parodi,
head c~L tha .Cut2a .-t>Yter t .section here
Saic F i L
Sanchez said t42-Lall of the Somot
government in ~RcaraAUawas`a "sig.
nal'' to other Latin Am can an dictatgr-
s~tps that -t: oMff (gL He said
is inteadesi to support guerrilla inJsw
rec'iuns?in those counry us -is il_did
zn Nicaragua
He named Guatemala, El Salvador,
Ana, as countries where u 5a
-u ns providing a rtt
t~o revolutionary Iorces. This m -C d
material support, advice, and diploma
back internatonal forums.
Sanchez, Cuba's top diplomat in the
United States, made his remarks at a
breakfast meeting with. reporters spon-
sored by Foreign Policy magazine.
HE CONFIRMED the outline of a Ceti.
trai Intelligence Agency' memorandum
on Cuban activities in the Caribbean
disclosed earlier this month by the Trib-
une. The memorandum said Fidel Cas.
tro was supporting guerrilla movements
in Nicaragua and other Central Ameri.
can couotrles.
He also blamed, the U.S. for causing
t:ie surge of refugee- boatneople from
Viet Nam. Liag.S, interxentfon in
Viet Nam had been a worse crime thin !
an :~ln ~ co a--Ey "~moZa or er.'r
Regarding reports of Inteased num-
bers of Soviet. military personnel in
C;:ba, Sanchez said Cuban,' v ties
se fl 11
kill continue _t~
.
inClu id mil -
g
-skid :!?Vtber h .$3da tt Stir Ptiiadptf
ly or only wAtt" ~}i a, i _ t t'plit l.?
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2012/06/01 CIA-RDP98S00099R000501010033-7
"Across the board."
SXNCHEZ SAID Cuba supports the
jurnta which has replaced former Presi-
dent Anastasio Somoza In Nicaragua. He
said Cuban support for the Sandinista
rebels increased as the civil struggle
intensified in past months. But, be said,
Cuba does not intend to impose its own
social system upon another country.
He said Cuba had advised the Sandi. The U.S. has sa~d?that % normauza-
nista guerrillas to broadest sup- tion of relations is possible as long as
port in order avoid ;tary interven- Cuba has fighting men on the Afiican
tion by the U.S. He also said Cuba would continent
consider giving military aid to the new Sanchez
said
Nicaraguan government, but indicated to _keep trogM na3 ~ma
the matter had not been dLscussed is iA -"I& ._ m- log as
any detail. needed and will provide aid and-advice He said support for the Sandfn to "ti6eiation fronts" in Africa,' but!
_ would confine. troop commitments to re-
tn _u arms an political advug but I quests from African governments.
he declined comment on the -land oil
arms or the wary JJWJc4tM,aid aid would be given tai
delver o tTie`~icara guerrillas, insurgency groups in southern e Africa.
The CU reported in Slay t v u a fun- SANCHE7 SAID Cubs Intends to re.i
nelled arms to the Sandinistas aboard
Panamanian air force planes.
SANCHEZ. WHO came to the U.S.
when Cuba and the U.S. established in-
terest sections in each other's capitals
in 1977, said Cuba still hoped to normal-
ize relations with the U.S. But be said
movement toward that and has not been
"up to expectations."
3 uu[ weer. This, he reported, would,
bring the total released since January to;
2400
Mavmas ^Atlarf?c B8
t300 to M released prisonersr a still are awaiting processing by the U.S.
-" .Ct7AA_ ! as refugees, Sanchet said. Cube has said i
f eo y y
a . it intends to release about 3,009
Air rr Y.IAMAICA_ eventually- ~r r
-
I
`uaa~~; Sanchez .said Huber Matos, the most t