Havana: Cuba made a statement on Thursday affirming that Russian warships are scheduled to arrive in Havana next week, emphasizing that these four navy vessels are devoid of nuclear weapons and do not pose any threat to the region.
“This visit corresponds to the historical friendly relations between Cuba and the Russian Federation and strictly adheres to international regulations,” Cuba’s foreign ministry stated, seeking to allay concerns surrounding the arrival of the vessels.
Cuba’s reassurance follows reports from a U.S. official indicating Russia’s intentions to deploy combat vessels to the Caribbean, including allies such as Cuba and Venezuela, for naval exercises. Despite heightened tensions between the United States and Russia since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia, the U.S. views the impending arrival of Russian ships as routine, albeit noteworthy.
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While the United States does not perceive the presence of a small number of planes and ships as threatening, the U.S. Navy intends to monitor the exercises closely, as confirmed by a U.S. official on Wednesday. According to the statement issued by Cuba, the Russian ships are expected to dock in Havana harbor sometime between June 12 and June 17.
