WASHINGTON — A U.S. Navy submarine has arrived in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in a show of force as a fleet of Russian warships gather for planned military exercises in the Caribbean.
U.S. Southern Command said the USS Helena, a nuclear-powered fast attack submarine, pulled into the waters near the U.S. base in Cuba on Thursday, just a day after a Russian frigate, a nuclear-powered submarine, an oil tanker and a rescue tug crossed into Havana Bay after drills in the Atlantic Ocean.
The stop is part of a “routine port visit” as the submarine travels through Southern Command’s region, it said in a social media post.
Other U.S. ships also have been tracking and monitoring the Russian drills, which Pentagon officials say do not represent a threat to the United States.
“This is not a surprise. We’ve seen them do these type of port calls before,” Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Wednesday when asked about the Russian drills. “We of course take it seriously, but these exercises don’t pose a threat to the United States.”
The exercises, however, come less than two weeks after President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-provided weapons to strike inside Russia to protect Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. Russian President Vladimir Putin then suggested his military could respond with “asymmetrical steps” elsewhere in the world.
Singh said it wouldn’t be a surprise to see more Russian activity around the United States in such global exercises. The drills are in international waters, and U.S. officials expect the Russian ships to remain in the region through the summer and possibly also stop in Venezuela.
Russia is a longtime ally of Venezuela and Cuba, and its warships and aircraft have periodically made forays into the Caribbean.
Russian ships have occasionally docked in Havana since 2008, when a group of Russian vessels entered Cuban waters in what state media described as the first such visit in almost two decades. In 2015, a reconnaissance and communications ship arrived unannounced in Havana a day before the start of discussions between U.S. and Cuban officials on the reopening of diplomatic relations.
In a move that has raised eyebrows and sparked speculation, a US submarine has arrived at Guantanamo Bay following the recent arrival of Russian warships in Cuba. The presence of both American and Russian military vessels in close proximity has reignited tensions between the two superpowers, leading to concerns about a potential escalation of hostilities in the region.
The arrival of the US submarine at Guantanamo Bay comes just days after two Russian warships, the Marshal Ustinov and the Yaroslav Mudry, docked in Havana for a scheduled visit. The presence of Russian naval vessels in Cuba is seen as a show of strength by Moscow, which has been seeking to expand its influence in the Western Hemisphere in recent years.
The decision to deploy a US submarine to Guantanamo Bay is likely a response to the Russian naval presence in Cuba. The submarine, which belongs to the US Navy’s Atlantic Fleet, is equipped with advanced capabilities that allow it to operate covertly and gather intelligence on potential threats. Its arrival at Guantanamo Bay is seen as a signal to Russia that the US is closely monitoring the situation and is prepared to defend its interests in the region.
The presence of both American and Russian military vessels in close proximity has raised concerns about the potential for a confrontation between the two superpowers. Tensions between the US and Russia have been running high in recent years, with both countries engaging in a series of tit-for-tat actions that have strained their already fragile relationship.
The situation in Cuba is further complicated by the ongoing political and economic crisis in Venezuela, which has become a flashpoint for tensions between the US and Russia. Both countries have been backing rival factions in Venezuela’s power struggle, with the US supporting opposition leader Juan Guaido and Russia backing President Nicolas Maduro.
As the situation in Cuba continues to unfold, it is important for both the US and Russia to exercise restraint and avoid any actions that could escalate tensions further. The presence of military vessels from both countries in close proximity only serves to heighten the risk of a miscalculation or misunderstanding that could lead to a dangerous escalation.
In the meantime, the world will be watching closely as the US submarine at Guantanamo Bay keeps a watchful eye on the Russian warships in Cuba. The stakes are high, and any misstep could have serious consequences for regional stability and global security.
