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Russian warships sail towards Cuba

A fleet of Russian warships arrived in Cuban waters on Wednesday ahead of planned military exercises in the region as part of what some perceived as an attempt by Moscow to show its strength as tensions grow with the West over the war in Ukraine.

The warships included three vessels accompanied by small boats. The flagship frigate, adorned with the Russian and Cuban flags, was received with 21 cannon salutes. The sailors in dress uniform were in military formation as they approached the island.

A nuclear-powered submarine was expected to arrive behind them.

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People watch the arrival of the Russian Navy frigate Almirante Gorshkov at the port of Havana on Wednesday. A fleet of Russian warships arrived in Cuban waters on Wednesday ahead of planned military exercises in the Caribbean. (AP Photo/Ariel Ley)

“Above all, the warships are a reminder to Washington that it is unpleasant when an adversary meddles in the near abroad,” said Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin America Program at the Washington-based think tank Wilson Center. Washington, referring to the West. participation in Russia’s war in Ukraine. “It also reminds Russia’s friends in the region, including American antagonists Cuba and Venezuela, that Moscow is on their side.”

Russia is a long-standing ally of Cuba and has close ties to Venezuela, another US adversary. The ships are expected to remain in the region through the summer.

Despite the submarine, a senior U.S. administration official told The Associated Press that the intelligence community has determined that no vessel is carrying nuclear weapons.

A State Department spokesperson told the AP that Russia’s stops in Cuba are “routine naval visits.” The official acknowledged that military exercises “have intensified due to US support for Ukraine and exercise activity in support of our NATO allies.”

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russian nuclear submarine

The Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kazan arrives at the port of Havana. (AP Photo/Ariel Ley)

Tensions between the United States and Moscow have increased since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Biden administration has provided Ukraine with billions of dollars in military aid to defend itself against Russian attacks.

Russian military and defense doctrine keeps Latin America and the Caribbean in an important position, as the sphere is considered under the influence of the United States and acts as a counterweight to Washington’s activities in Europe, said Ryan Berg, director of the Program of the Americas of the Center for the Americas, based in Washington. Strategic and International Studies.

“While this is likely little more than a provocation on Moscow’s part, it sends a message about Russia’s ability to project power in the Western Hemisphere with the help of its allies, and will certainly keep the US military on high alert while in the theater of operations,” Berg said.

The Russian deployment is likely a warning to President Biden after he gave approval for Ukrainian forces to attack some targets inside Russia using American weaponry, according to Rebekah Koffler, a strategic intelligence analyst and author of “Putin’s Playbook.” Russian President Vladimir Putin is saying to Washington, “We can touch it,” Koffler said.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, right, and his Cuban counterpart, Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (right) and his Cuban counterpart Bruno Eduardo Rodríguez Parrilla shake hands after a joint press conference following their talks in Moscow on Wednesday. (Natalia Kolesnikova/Pool photo via AP)

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“Putin wants to be close to the American homeland at this time when the Russia-Ukraine crisis is on a highly escalatory trajectory, given Biden’s clearance to Ukraine. If something goes wrong and Ukraine attacks critical targets in Russia near major cities, the Russian military may allow the Cubans to attack targets within the United States or attack American interests,” he said.

Anders Hagstrom of Fox News Digital and The Associated Press contributed to this report.


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