The Cuban Missile Crisis Redux?
Russian warships are headed for Cuba once again, this time for joint naval and air exercises. The deployment features some of the Kremlin's most advanced ships, including the Admiral Gorshkov, which is far from deteriorating at the bottom of the Black Sea. The fleet is set to engage in exercises and make multiple port calls throughout the Caribbean, with Havana being a key stop.
First announced by Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX), this development is part of Russia's ongoing strategy to project military strength globally and flex its muscles close to U.S. shores. Adding to the palpable tension are the universally acknowledged rising tensions between Russia and the West amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. (RELATED: Putin Pushing Russian Elite To Decisive Moment)
While similar exercises have occurred in the past, this year's maneuvers are unavoidably seen in the context of the increasing military presence of NATO and Western forces in and around Ukraine. This includes recent decisions by France to deploy military trainers to Ukraine and the Biden administration granting Ukraine limited permission to use U.S.-provided weapons to strike targets inside Russia.
CNN continues with more details on the provocative deployment, which includes the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan and the fleet oil tanker Pashin:
Cuba says none of the ships carry nuclear weapons and insists their stopover does not represent a threat to the region.
“Visits by naval units from other countries are a historical practice of the revolutionary government with nations that maintain relations of friendship and collaboration,” the statement added.
Moscow has not confirmed the information provided by Cuba. CNN has reached out to the Russian government for comment.
Last July, the Russian Navy's training class ship, Perekop, made a dramatic entrance in Havana for a four-day visit. However, this deployment casts a larger, more ominous shadow, appearing to be the largest in years. (RELATED: Russian Allies Spread Anti-Ukraine Information To Americans)
Cuba's announcement comes days after US President Joe Biden gave Ukraine permission to carry out limited strikes inside Russian territory with American munitions. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Western countries “supplying weapons to a conflict zone is always a bad thing.”
“In the end, if we see that these countries become involved in a war against us, what they are doing makes them directly involved in a war against the Russian Federation, we reserve the right to act the same way,” the de facto leader added.
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