Annual defense budget: $1.04bn 

Defense spending trend: Down 3% in 2002

From 1959 to the 1980s, Cuba's efficient military, well represented in the Council of Ministers and the Politburo, was one of the achievements of the revolution. Under Castro's brother Raúl, it succeeded in repelling the US-sponsored Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, and saw effective action in Africa in the 1970s, preventing South Africa from taking control of Angola, and Somalia from occupying the Ogaden region in Ethiopia.

Since the worldwide collapse of communist regimes, the Cuban army has lost much of its prestige. Russia is still the main source of arms.

A siege mentality associated with the US economic embargo keeps the military on the alert for perceived internal and external threats.

CUBAN ARMED FORCES

Army
		900 main battle tanks (T-34, T-54/55, T-62)		35,000 personnel
Navy
		5 patrol boats		3000 personnel
Air force
		130 combat aircraft (MiG-21/23/29)		8000 personnel
Nuclear capability
		None

From "The Financial Times World Desk Reference" © Dorling Kindersley 2004