three Russia The warship arrived Cuba Moscow conducted such a voyage in Cuban waters on Saturday, its second in recent months, reflecting growing ties between Russia and Cuba.
The naval group, consisting of training ships, patrol frigates and refueling tankers, is expected to remain in port in Cuba. Havana Until July 30. The arrival of the ships comes just weeks after another Russian fleet, including powerful nuclear submarines, visited Havana last month as part of planned military exercises.
U.S. officials closely monitored the mid-June military exercise and said the group of four ships did not pose a real threat. At the time, experts said the warships Caribbean The tour was seen as a symbolic show of force for continued U.S. and Western support. Ukraine.
Cuban defense officials announced the latest port visit earlier this week, calling it a “historic tradition” and a sign of “friendship and cooperation,” but neither government elaborated on the purpose of the latest deployment.
Cuba Baltic The Russian naval fleet entered port on Saturday with a grand gun salute. The arrival of the fleet sparked excitement among the public, with Cubans strolling the port’s streets on Saturday to catch a glimpse of the fleet, and officials announced that interested visitors could board the Russian training ship Smolny on Sunday and Monday.
“This is a friendly thing, a bond between Russia and Cuba,” said 29-year-old bystander Maydelis Pérez, pointing out the massive warship to her three children. “It’s a family outing.”
Russia is a long-standing ally Venezuela Russia is allied with Cuba, and its warships and aircraft regularly sail into the Caribbean and call at Havana. Cuba does not play a significant role in Russian foreign policy, but experts say Russia keeps an eye on Cuba from its ports, which are less than 100 miles (160 km) away. Florida — is of strategic importance given its continuing influence in the developing world.
Cuba and Russia, Cold War-era allies now subject to tough U.S. sanctions, have been particularly active in recent years. Moscow Russia is seeking to bolster its diplomatic support for the Ukraine war, and Havana is seeking all the economic aid it can get.
Cuba has consistently abstained from UN resolutions on the invasion of Ukraine and has avoided criticising Moscow’s war efforts. Russia has sold vast amounts of oil to Cuba, but the country suffers periodic power outages due to the US economic blockade.
