Russian Warships Depart Cuba After Visit Following Military Exercises

A fleet of Russian warships, including a nuclear-powered submarine, concluded their visit to Cuba on Monday after five days. The ships departed Havana's port following planned military drills in the Atlantic Ocean. This visit and the drills were seen by some as a demonstration of Russia's military strength amidst heightened tensions due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, where the U.S. and other Western nations are backing Ukraine against Russia.

The departing flotilla included a frigate, the Admiral Gorshkov, the nuclear submarine Kazan, an oil tanker, and a rescue tug. They were met with a 21-gun salute upon arrival in Havana. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel even visited the frigate and interacted with the crew during their stay.

While the U.S. maintained the visit did not pose a threat, they closely monitored the movement of the Russian vessels. Notably, the U.S. also docked a submarine, the USS Helena, at its Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba around the same time.