The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) of Cuba announced the upcoming arrival in Havana, on an "official visit," of several ships from the Russian Navy, including a nuclear-powered submarine.
Between June 12 and 17, 2024, an official visit to the port of Havana will take place by a naval detachment from the Russian Federation, consisting of four ships: the frigate ‘Gorshkov’, the nuclear-powered submarine ‘Kazan’, the fleet oiler ‘Pashin’, and the salvage tug ‘Nikolai Chiker’, the MINREX announced on Thursday in a statement.
The official statement adds that the visit is in line "with the historical friendship relations between Cuba and the Russian Federation," and that "it strictly complies with the international regulations of which Cuba is a State party."
MINREX clarified that none of the ships are carrying nuclear weapons, so their stop in the country "does not pose a threat to the region."
Upon the arrival of the Russian naval detachment, 21 salvos will be fired from one of the ships in the group as a salute to the nation, which will be reciprocated by an artillery battery from the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) from the San Carlos Fortress in La Cabaña.
The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that during their stay, the Russian sailors "will carry out a program of activities," which will include courtesy visits to the Chief of the Revolutionary Navy and the Governor of Havana.
It is also planned for them to visit historical and cultural sites of interest.
"The visits of naval units from other countries is a historic practice of the revolutionary Government with nations with which we maintain friendly and collaborative relations," concluded the MINREX.
United States' Reaction
An article published this Thursday by the news agency AP reveals that the United States has been tracking Russian combat vessels and aircraft that are expected to arrive in the Caribbean for a military exercise.
Russia did not notify the United States about the upcoming maneuvers, but the US Navy has been tracking the movements of these vessels, as revealed by two officials speaking on condition of anonymity.
Officials said the exercise is "undoubtedly" part of a broader Russian response to U.S. support for Ukraine, but it is also an attempt by Putin to demonstrate that his navy is still capable of projecting global power after losing several vessels in Ukrainian attacks.
The maneuvers, which will be closely followed by the United States Army, will include a "handful" of Russian ships and support vessels, the two officials said.
This is not the first time that Russia has sent ships to the Caribbean.
However, this exercise is carried out after Putin hinted that Moscow could take "asymmetric measures" in other parts of the world in response to Biden's decision to allow Ukraine to use weapons provided by the US to launch attacks inside Russian territory in order to protect Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city.
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