HAVANA — A fleet of Russian warships, including a nuclear-powered submarine, left Havana’s port on Monday after a five-day visit to Cuba following planned military drills in the Atlantic Ocean. The exercise has been seen by some as a show of strength by Moscow against the backdrop of tensions as U.S. and other Western nations support Kyiv in Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The submarine, a frigate, an oil tanker and a rescue tug slowly departed from the port on Monday morning.
It’s unclear what the fleet’s next destination is or where it will dock next in the Caribbean, although U.S. officials said days ago that the vessels could possibly also stop in Venezuela.
Officials with the Biden administration said last week that they were monitoring the vessels and confirmed that they did not pose a threat to the region or indicate a transfer of missiles. Still, the United States docked a submarine, the USS Helena, at its Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba.
The American naval base, located in the southeastern part of the island about 1,000 kilometers (625 miles) from the capital of Havana, is considered by the Cuban government to be illegally occupied territory.
Last week, the Russian ships arrived at the port after the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that the fleet successfully conducted military drills in the Atlantic Ocean, simulating a missile attack on targets that could be more than 600 kilometers (375 miles) away.
The fleet, made up of the frigate “Gorshkov,” the nuclear-powered submarine “Kazan,” the tanker “Pashin,” and the tug “Nikolai Chiker,” was received in Havana with a 21-gun salute.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel visited the frigate on Saturday and interacted with the sailors, according to a post by the president on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Meanwhile, Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío rejected the presence of the American submarine at Guantanamo Base, stating it was unwelcome and uninvited.
A State Department spokesperson said last week that Russia’s port calls in Cuba are “routine naval visits” and do not pose any danger.
On Thursday, a day after arriving, hundreds of people lined up to visit the frigate. The ship was also open to the public on Saturday, which is a common practice when vessels arrive at the port.
Canada’s navy patrol boat Margaret Brooke entered the Havana harbor on Friday.
Russian warships recently departed the port of Havana after a five-day visit to Cuba, marking a significant display of military cooperation between the two countries. The visit, which began on Monday, saw three Russian warships docked in the Cuban capital, including the missile cruiser Marshal Ustinov, the medium sea tanker Yelnya, and the rescue tugboat Altai.
The presence of Russian warships in Cuban waters has raised eyebrows in the international community, particularly given the strained relations between Russia and the United States. The visit comes at a time of heightened tensions between the two superpowers, with ongoing disputes over issues such as Ukraine, Syria, and nuclear arms control.
The Russian warships’ visit to Cuba is seen as a show of support for the Cuban government, which has long been a close ally of Russia. The two countries have a history of military cooperation dating back to the Cold War era, when Cuba served as a strategic ally for the Soviet Union.
During their stay in Havana, the Russian warships conducted joint training exercises with the Cuban navy, including drills in anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue operations. The visit also included cultural exchanges between Russian and Cuban sailors, highlighting the strong ties between the two nations.
The departure of the Russian warships from Havana marks the end of a successful visit that has further strengthened the military cooperation between Russia and Cuba. The presence of Russian warships in Cuban waters serves as a reminder of Russia’s continued influence in the region and its commitment to supporting its allies.
As the international community continues to monitor the evolving relationship between Russia and Cuba, the recent visit of Russian warships to Havana serves as a reminder of the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in the region. The presence of Russian military assets in Cuban waters is likely to continue to be a point of contention between Russia and the United States, as both countries vie for influence in Latin America and beyond.
