Cuba has scheduled a late November three-day cross-country military exercise in order to mark the country's National Defense Day.

The war game, dubbed Bastion-2009, will begin on November 26 in an effort to boost the country's deterrence powers, Cuban Defense Ministry said in a Monday statement.

"The Bastion-2009 strategic exercises will be held throughout the country on November 26-28 as part of a program aimed at strengthening Cuba's defense capability," Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported.

"Drills will comprise different types of tactical exercises with the participation of units from the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionaria [Revolutionary Armed Forces], the Interior Ministry and components of territorial defenses," the statement went on to read.

Cuba scrapped the 2008 National Defense Day military exercises over the occurrence of three deadly hurricanes in the Caribbean.

GHN/SC/DT