The USA reacted to the visit of Russian ships to Cuba

The United States reacted to the visit of Russian warships to Cuba.

The Russian frigate “Admiral Gorshkov” and the nuclear submarine “Kazan” entered Havana (the capital of Cuba) on Wednesday, June 12, Reuters reports.

Cuba, a longtime Russian ally, saluted the ships’ arrival with a cannon shot from the harbor, while Russian diplomats waved small Russian flags and took selfies as the ships passed the historic fortresses.

The frigate Admiral Gorshkov, and later the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, half-submerged and with crew aboard, were escorted by a tug and a fuel vessel that had arrived earlier in the morning.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Wednesday that four Russian ships arrived in Cuba on Wednesday after training with “high-precision missile weapons” in the Atlantic Ocean.

The submarine and frigate carry Tsyrkon hypersonic missiles, Kalibr cruise missiles and Onyx anti-ship missiles, the ministry said.

The US watched the Russian ships as they skirted the coast of Florida, but said they did not pose a threat.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters that such naval exercises are routine.

“We’ve seen things like this before, and we expect to see things like this again, and I’m not going to read any specific motives into it,” Sullivan said.

He added that there was no evidence that Russia had transferred any missiles to Cuba, but that the US would remain vigilant.

Havana is located just 100 miles from Key West, Florida, home to the US Navy Air Force Base.

“The visit of Russian warships is Putin’s way of reminding Biden that Moscow can challenge Washington in its own sphere of influence,” says American University professor William Leogrande.

Russian ships are expected to remain in Havana until June 17.

Earlier, the USM reported that for the first time since 2016, a Canadian Navy ship will call at the Cuban port. The visit will take place against the background of the increased presence of the fleet of the Russian Federation in the Caribbean.