Russian warships arrive in Cuba in show of force
Four Russian naval ships, including a nuclear-powered submarine and a frigate, have arrived in Cuba, viewed as a display of strength amid tensions with the West over the conflict in Ukraine.
The vessels are currently docked at Havana Bay, approximately 90 miles (145km) from the US state of Florida.
According to Russia’s defense ministry, the Admiral Gorshkov frigate and the Kazan submarine are equipped with advanced weaponry, including hypersonic Zircon missiles. Before their arrival, they conducted missile exercises in the Atlantic Ocean.
Cuba’s foreign ministry has clarified that none of the ships are carrying nuclear weapons and their brief stay of five days does not represent a threat to the region.
US officials are closely monitoring the situation, and according to reports from BBC’s US partner CBS, the US Navy has deployed sea drones to track the movements of the Russian vessels as they approached Cuba.
Early on a grey and overcast morning, the Russian vessels entered Havana Bay, flanked by smaller support vessels, to a 21-gun salute.
In a statement, Russia’s defense minister said the visit was unofficial, allowing the vessels’ crews to “rest and get acquainted with local attractions”.
Russia has sent warships to Cuba in the past and the two nations are long-standing allies – but the timing of these particular exercises stands out.
Coming amid growing tensions over Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the operation is being interpreted by some as saber-rattling by Moscow.
Certainly, it appears to send a pretty clear message from the Kremlin to Washington about what they consider to be meddling in their backyard.
The visit is an important symbol of support to the communist-run government in Cuba and its socialist ally, Venezuela, where the warships may sail to next after they finish in Havana.
From the US perspective, officials have indicated that they are aware of the visit – but do not consider that it poses a threat to the US, adding that their understanding was that the nuclear-powered submarine was not carrying nuclear weapons.
In essence, while the visit may be considered broadly routine, the context of wider global hostilities in which it is taking place is anything but.
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