Cuba's armed forces Thursday launched its largest military exercise in five ears, "Bastion 2009," which would ward off a possible attack in a crisis, local media reported Thursday.
Cuba's regular troops, Ministry of the Interior units and the militia took part in the three-day exercise, which also involved the mobilization of ground troops, military flights and artillery practice, the state-run newspaper Granma reported.
The Caribbean nation will also hold a military parade on Nov. 29. It was necessary to hold this military exercise given the current
political-military situation, which was characterized by a confrontation between Cuba and the United States, said General Leonardo Andollo, deputy chief of Cuba's armed forces.
The exercise was aimed at raising the country's capacity to prevent a military confrontation, he stressed.
The exercise was held when relations between Havana and Washington began to thaw. U.S. President Barack Obama restated negotiations on direct mail service and immigration and cancelled financial and travel restrictions for Cuban Americans in a bid to improve relations with Cuba.
But at the same time, Washington planned to revive its Fourth Fleet, which was directed against Latin American countries and increased its access to seven military bases in Colombia, putting Cuba on alert, analysts said.
Cuba holds military exercises of this kind every four years. This year's exercise was originally scheduled for November 2008 but had to be canceled after two hurricanes hit the island.