A Russian Submarine and 3 Warships Arrive in Havana; Cuba and the United States: Not a Threatening Action

A nuclear-powered submarine and three Russian naval ships arrived in Havana, Cuba's capital, on Wednesday, June 13; an action that both the United States and Cuba do not consider threatening, but in light of the escalating war in Ukraine, is seen as a show of force from Moscow. According to Reuters, a small group of fishermen and curious onlookers lined the Malecón waterfront to welcome the ships passing from the 400-year-old Morro Castle at the harbor entrance. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that these three ships and one submarine were part of a group conducting missile exercises in the Atlantic Ocean en route to Cuba. The submarine and Russian ships are expected to remain in Havana until June 17. Last week, Cuba announced that this is a 'standard procedure' regarding friendly nations and emphasized that these ships and the submarine do not carry nuclear weapons; this was later confirmed by the United States. An unnamed American official told Reuters, 'We have been closely monitoring the path of these ships; they have not posed a direct threat to the United States at any point.' However, William LeoGrande, a professor at American University, believes that given the 160-kilometer distance from Havana to the U.S. military base in Key West, Florida, and the timing of this visit coinciding with the Biden administration's review of increasing support for Ukraine against Russia, it is more than just a 'standard procedure.' He states, 'The visit of Russian warships is Putin's way of reminding Biden that Moscow can challenge Washington in its sphere of influence.' LeoGrande notes that 'this stop occurs at the same time as Cuba's worst social and economic crisis in decades, with shortages of food, medicine, and fuel, and discontent in the streets.' He adds, 'This situation reflects echoes of the Cold War, but this time Cubans are drawn to Moscow not due to ideological proximity but because of economic necessities.' In 1962, when the former Soviet Union responded to the deployment of U.S. missiles in Turkey by sending ballistic missiles to Cuba, the 'Cuban Missile Crisis' began, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war. Reuters noted that Moscow and Cuba are once again strengthening bilateral relations, reporting that Miguel Díaz-Canel, Cuba's president, stated during his fourth visit to Russia earlier this year that Moscow can always count on Havana's support. The report also mentioned that earlier in April, Moscow delivered 90,000 tons of oil to help Cuba cope with energy shortages and promised to assist Havana in various projects, from sugar production to infrastructure development, renewable energy, and tourism.