Russian warships conducted drills in the Atlantic as they made their way to visit Cuba, a move described by the Russian Defense Ministry as a way to project power amidst tensions with the West over Ukraine. The Admiral Gorshkov frigate and Kazan nuclear-powered submarine participated in the exercise, simulating a missile strike on enemy ships more than 600 kilometers away. The Admiral Gorshkov is armed with new Zircon hypersonic missiles, capable of penetrating anti-missile defenses by flying nine times faster than the speed of sound at a range of over 1,000 kilometers.
Accompanied by two support vessels, the Russian warships are set to visit Havana for a friendly port call from Wednesday to June 17. The Cuban Foreign Ministry assured that none of the vessels would carry nuclear weapons and that their presence does not pose a threat to the region. This visit comes as the U.S. announced tracking of Russian warships and aircraft expected to arrive in the Caribbean for a military exercise.
Putin’s warning that Moscow could respond to Ukraine’s Western allies allowing Kyiv to use their weapons by providing similar weapons to adversaries of the West globally adds a layer of significance to Russia’s naval presence in the region. While not the first time Russian warships have visited the Caribbean, their presence in Cuba reflects the historically friendly relations between Russia and Cuba. The drills and visit highlight Russia’s ongoing efforts to assert its military capabilities and influence in strategic locations around the world.
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