Russia will be sending three warships and a nuclear submarine to Havana, Cuba next week, as confirmed by the Cuban government amid Russia's current tensions with the US over its aid to Ukraine. This means that Russian warships will only be miles from US soil, the nearest being Florida.

The Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces released a statement regarding the visit, confirming that the Russian missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the nuclear submarine Kazan, the oil tanker Pashin, and the salvage tug Nikolai Chiker are all arriving in the Port of Havana for an official visit on June 12. The ships are reportedly staying in the country for around a week.

The Russian warships will be in Cuba for "heightened naval and air activity near the United States," a US official told the Miami Herald. These military exercises will involve both Russian aircraft and combat naval vessels and would be the first coordinated air and sea exercise by Russia in the Western Hemisphere in around 5 years.

"While we are disappointed that Cuba has likely agreed to host visiting Russian ships, we are not surprised," the official stated and addressed the inclusion of the nuclear submarine, stating that the US intelligence community "assesses it is not carrying nuclear weapons, and poses no direct threat to the national security of the United States."

Biden administration officials suspect that these naval exercises were approved by Cuba "at least in part" over an incident last year where a US nuclear submarine docked at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.

"We are not surprised by it given Russia's long history of Cuban port calls," added the official. "These are routine naval visits that are part of Russian military exercises, which have ratcheted up because of US support to Ukraine and exercise activity in support of our NATO allies."

READ MORE: Russia Sending Warships to the Caribbean for Naval Drills with Venezuela and Cuba

US Still Tracking Russian Warships and Planes Heading to Cuba

For Russia's part, the country sending warships near US waters may be in response to the situation in Ukraine. According to the Associated Press, Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that Moscow could take "asymmetrical steps" elsewhere in the world as a response to President Biden allowing Ukraine to use weapons provided by the United States to strike Russia.

US officials have stated that they are currently monitoring the Russian vessels as they head to the Caribbean. When they arrive in port, the fleet is expected to fire 21 salvos as a salute to Cuba. This will be reciprocated by an artillery battery of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces.

Russian Warships in Cuba for 'Friendly Relations'

Cuban officials have cited "historically friendly relations" between the two countries as the reason why the Russian warships are visiting Havana next week, according to France 24.

They were also the ones that assured its neighbor, the US, that none of these ships, including the nuclear submarine, were carrying any nuclear weapons. This comes as tensions between the US and Russia are continuing to escalate.

READ MORE: Russia Spreading Disinformation About US Border Crisis To Undercut Ukraine Aid

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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