By In a move that highlights the “historically friendly relations” between Russia and Cuba, four Russian warships, including a nuclear-powered submarine, are set to arrive in Havana next week. The announcement comes as tensions escalate over Western military support for Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia.
According to a news release from Cuba’s foreign ministry, the ships will be in Havana from June 12 to June 17. The ministry emphasized that none of the vessels will carry nuclear weapons and assured that their presence “does not represent a threat to the region.”
The announcement follows statements from U.S. officials who said they had been tracking Russian warships and aircraft expected to arrive in the Caribbean for a military exercise. The officials described the exercise as part of a broader Russian response to U.S. support for Ukraine.
While the U.S. officials noted that the Russian military presence was significant but not concerning, the development comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin has hinted at the possibility of taking “asymmetrical steps” elsewhere in the world. This suggestion is seen as a response to President Joe Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-provided weapons to strike inside Russia to protect Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.
The four Russian ships identified by Cuba’s Foreign Ministry are the frigate “Gorshkov,” the nuclear-powered submarine “Kazan,” the fleet oil tanker “Pashin,” and the salvage tug “Nikolai Chiker.”
The arrival of these warships in Havana is likely to raise eyebrows in the international community, particularly among those nations supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. The move may be seen as a display of Russia’s global reach and a reminder of its strategic partnerships, even as it faces international condemnation and sanctions over its actions in Ukraine.
As the war in Ukraine continues, with no immediate end in sight, the presence of Russian warships in the Caribbean is likely to add another layer of complexity to the already tense geopolitical situation. It remains to be seen how the U.S. and its allies will respond to this development and whether it will have any impact on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Credit: AP
