Havana, Cuba – A flotilla of Russian warships, including a nuclear-powered submarine, arrived in Havana on Wednesday, sparking tensions with the United States which closely monitored their movement with destroyers and surveillance aircraft.
The arrival of the Admiral Gorshkov frigate, accompanied by the Kazan submarine and other vessels, marked a show of force by Russia just 90 miles from US shores. The move is seen as a potential response to US support for Ukraine in the ongoing war.
The Kazan submarine, reportedly capable of carrying hypersonic missiles, raised particular concerns. While Cuban authorities assured there were no nuclear weapons on board and the visit posed no threat, the US dispatched a powerful naval force to shadow the Russian ships.
“We have been monitoring the ships’ paths closely,” a US official said, downplaying the immediate threat but acknowledging the “distinct” nature of this visit compared to past Russian deployments in Havana.
The presence of the Russian fleet coincided with a meeting between Cuban and Russian foreign ministers in Moscow, where they pledged continued support for each other’s interests. The visit also comes amidst plans for a Venezuelan ship to dock in Cuba, potentially signifying a broader regional alignment.
