Cuba vs. Russia: Which Communist Country Is Closest to the USA?

Cuba is closer. The premise that Russia is closer is geographically incorrect.

Distances

• Havana, Cuba → Key West, FL: 90 miles (145 km) — 90-minute ferry (if running).
• Big Diomede (Russia) → Little Diomede (USA, Alaska): 2.4 miles (3.8 km) across Bering Strait.

The Nuance

• Political geography: Cuba is a sovereign communist state 90 mi from US territory.
• Territorial proximity: Russia (via Big Diomede) and USA (via Little Diomede) share a maritime border — 2.4 miles apart.

Why the Confusion?

People conflate "Russia" (the country) with "mainland Russia" (thousands of miles away). The Diomede Islands are Russian and US territory respectively — but they are uninhabited military/weather outposts, not population centers.

Cold War Context

Cuba's proximity made it a strategic flashpoint (1962 Missile Crisis). Russia's proximity is a geographic curiosity with no civilian presence.

Answer: By sovereign capital-to-capital: Havana–DC = 1,130 mi; Moscow–DC = 4,860 mi. By closest territory: Russia (Diomede) 2.4 mi; Cuba 90 mi. Cuba is the closest communist nation with a population.