Russian warships make routine visit to Cuba despite tensions with US
- High-level contact between the two countries has increased to a level not seen since the fall of the Soviet Union
Cuban authorities sent shots into the air to signal their welcome, while curious fishermen watched from Havana’s waterside promenade as the ships advanced up the bay. Russian residents were also among the few up early to see the fleet’s arrival.
The patrol ship Neustrahimiy, training vessel Smolniy, and support vessels, all from the Baltic Fleet, are scheduled to depart on Tuesday.
A brief statement by the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces described their arrival as routine.
The US State Department and Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
A Russian nuclear submarine, frigate, and support ships in June also flexed Moscow’s muscles in the port of Havana, less than 160km (100 miles) from Florida.
Tensions between the United States and Russia have increased since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and Russian naval activity – though routine in the Atlantic – has ratcheted up because of US support for Ukraine, according to US officials.