Ships from the Russian fleet deployed in the Baltic Sea are scheduled to arrive at the port of Havana this weekend. According to Russian media, the visit is planned between July 27 and 30. This arrival supports reports indicating that Putin is preparing a permanent deployment of his naval forces in Cuba. In fact, this is the second stop of Russian ships in Havana Bay in less than 45 days.
According to information from Putin's Ministry of the Armed Forces, an agreement has been reached with the Cuban government for the docking in Havana of the training ship Smonly, the patrol boat Neustrashimy, and the tanker Yelnya.
With the arrival of the sailing ship, the frigate, and the oil tanker, Cuba and Russia take another step in consolidating their bilateral relations, which have been revived after years of lukewarm rapprochements. Analysts like military expert Alexander Sharkovsky interpret this deployment as a strong response from Moscow to the announcement by the United States of its intention to deploy long-range weapons in Europe, specifically in Germany.
"The base of the Russian armed forces, both land and naval, is already being recreated in Cuba. If dry cargo ships are used, it is possible that missiles (nuclear) will return there, as happened in 1962. Given that the United States intends to deploy its intermediate-range missiles in German territory, this means that our missiles must end up somewhere close to the United States. It is a very important strategic base for the security of the Russian Federation," emphasized Sharkovsky, who also noted that Russia has not yet initiated the process of sending a large number of warships to Cuba.
The expert argues that the Russian Navy will have its permanent base on the Island in the event that it is confirmed that the White House ultimately deploys its missile systems in Germany.
The official newspaper Granma announced this Thursday the arrival of three Russian ships in Havana, echoing a statement from the Ministry of the Armed Forces (Minfar). This is a "flotilla" that will remain in Cuban waters until July 30. The island's military authorities justify the stop by stating that visits from foreign naval units are "a historical practice of the revolutionary government with nations" with which they maintain "relations of friendship and collaboration."
To downplay the issue, they detailed the supposed agenda of the Russian sailors, which includes a courtesy visit to the head of the Revolutionary Navy, to the governor of Havana, and a tour of places of historical and cultural interest. Additionally, the training ship Smolny will be open to the public this Sunday from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM and on Monday until 6:00 PM.
The Russian Baltic fleet arrives in Cuba a month after a modern frigate and a nuclear-powered submarine disembarked in the bay of Havana on June 12, in addition to a tanker and the salvage tug Nikolai Chiker (SB-131) from the Northern Fleet naval group.
The frigate Almirante Gorshkov, which was making a stop in Havana on that occasion, is the ship that leads the group of the Russian Federation Navy that stayed in Cuba for five days.
In response to the Russian deployment in Havana, and in a strategic move, the U.S. Southern Command sent the nuclear submarine USS Helena to Guantánamo Bay. However, they were careful to say that it was not a response to the Russian threat. Quite the opposite, they framed this deployment as part of a "routine port visit" while transiting through the geographic area of responsibility of U.S. Southern Command and carrying out "its global maritime security and national defense mission."
What do you think?
COMMENTFiled under:
