Russia to Conduct Naval Exercises in the Caribbean
June 6 (UPI) — Russia is set to begin air and naval exercises in the Caribbean next week, with three Russian Navy ships and a nuclear-powered submarine scheduled to arrive at the Port of Havana in Cuba on June 12. Cuban and U.S. government officials confirmed the upcoming military drills.
Cuban officials emphasized that the visit is part of the “friendly” relations between Russia and Cuba and assured that none of the ships carry nuclear weapons, alleviating concerns about a potential threat to the region.
Despite heightened tensions between the United States and Russia over the conflict in Ukraine, U.S. officials do not view the naval exercises as a direct threat. The Biden administration recently authorized Ukraine to use American-provided weapons on Russian artillery sites in the Belgorod region, but with restrictions to avoid direct conflict with Russia.
Russian ships are expected to make port calls in Cuba and possibly Venezuela as part of the regional exercises, which are anticipated to continue through the summer and culminate in a global naval exercise in the fall.
While Russia did not notify the United States in advance of the exercises, the U.S. Navy has been monitoring the movement of the Russian vessels. This deployment is considered routine naval activity, as Russian ships have been visiting Cuba since 1969.
The upcoming joint air and sea exercise in the Caribbean will be the first of its kind since 2019. The frequency of such military displays has increased due to U.S. support for Ukraine and NATO allies, according to officials.
In response, about 20 NATO countries, including the United States, are planning a major naval and air exercise in the Baltic region near Russia on Friday.