Russian naval vessels arrive in Havana
A Russian naval convoy has sailed into the Caribbean, stirring old memories of the Cuban Missile Crisis from over six decades ago. Despite these recollections, all parties involved insist that there's no cause for alarm this time around.
The procession of Russian warships entered the waters around Cuba's Bay of Havana, with a couple of them carefully navigating the narrow entrance assisted by smaller boats. American officials anticipate a small number of Russian ships and support vessels to join the drills, which might also stop by Venezuela. Last week, US representatives indicated that these maritime vessels could remain in the area until summer.
Among the Russian naval contingent is a nuclear-powered submarine; however, a senior US government official confirmed that their intelligence revealed no nuclear armaments aboard any of the ships. They pose no immediate threat to the United States.
A confidential tip from a leading government official to the "Miami Herald" last Wednesday revealed that Moscow intends to conduct military exercises in the Caribbean later this year, complete with aircraft and warships. This would be the first time the Russian military performs such exercises in the Western Hemisphere, involving both aerial and naval units, since the start of the Ukrainian conflict in 2022.
The Cuban Defense Ministry confirmed on Thursday that the nuclear-powered submarine "Kasan" and three other Russian naval vessels would be stationed in Havana from June 12 to 17.
Cuba stands by Russia despite Ukrainian conflict
Russian-Cuban relations have strengthened since 2022. In November 2022, Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel visited Moscow to converse with Vladimir Putin. In April 2023, president Díaz-Canel publicly pledged his "unconditional support" to Moscow in its "struggle against the West." Cuba has refrained from reproving Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Russian warships and aircraft have been maneuvering through the Caribbean routinely. The present deployment takes place approximately two weeks after US President Joe Biden gave the green light for Ukraine to employ weapons delivered by the US to defend the second-largest city in Ukraine, Kharkiv. Following these developments, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested that he might respond with "asymmetric measures" in other parts of the world, potentially including weapons transfers.
During the Cold War, Cuba served as a crucial ally of the Soviet Union. Cuba's acquisition of Soviet atomic missiles in 1962 led to the Cuban Missile Crisis, a situation where the world was merely two weeks away from a nuclear confrontation between the United States and the USSR.
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- The Soviet Union, once a significant ally of Cuba during the Cold War, is now being represented by Russian naval vessels in Havana, reminding some of the tense relations between Russia and the USA during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
- Despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the USA's support for Ukraine, Venezuela has been mentioned as a possible destination for Russian ships and support vessels, hinting at continuing cooperation between Moscow and Caracas.
- In line with its unwavering support for Russia, Cuba has allowed a nuclear-powered Russian submarine and three other naval vessels to dock in Havana from June 12 to 17, as reported by the Cuban Defense Ministry, which has also refrained from criticizing Russia's actions regarding Ukraine.
