Russian Warships in Havana: Cuba Hosts Another High-Profile Naval Visit

The Cuban regime’s Armed Forces recently announced an upcoming “working visit” by Russian warships to the port of Havana. This naval engagement, scheduled for late July 2024, highlights the ongoing military cooperation between Cuba and Russia, raising questions about its implications for regional dynamics and international relations.

Details of the Russian Naval Visit

According to an official statement from the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), a Baltic Fleet group from the Russian Federation Navy will arrive in Havana on July 27, 2024. The flotilla is set to remain in port until July 30, comprising three vessels:

1. The training ship “SMOLNIY”
2. The patrol ship “NEUSTRASHIMIY”
3. The high-seas tanker “YELNYA”

This visit is part of a series of routine “working visits” to Cuba, particularly from nations with which the regime maintains “friendship and collaboration.”

Planned Activities and Public Access

During their stay in Cuba, Russian sailors will engage in a program of activities that includes:

• Courtesy visits to the Chief of the Revolutionary Navy
• Meeting with the Governor of Havana
• Tours of historical and cultural sites

In an unusual move promoting public engagement, Cuban authorities have announced that the “SMOLNIY” training ship will be open for public visits. Interested individuals can tour the vessel on:

• Sunday, July 28, from 12 PM to 4 PM
• Monday, July 29, from 12 PM to 6 PM

This opportunity for public access to a foreign military vessel is relatively rare and may serve multiple purposes, including public relations and cultural exchange.

Recent History of Russian Naval Presence in Cuba

This upcoming visit follows closely on the heels of a more significant Russian naval presence in Cuba just a month prior. In mid-June 2024, a group of Russian warships, including a nuclear-powered submarine, docked in Havana. That flotilla consisted of:

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• The frigate “GORSHKOV”
• The fleet oiler “PASHIN”
• The rescue tug “NIKOLAI CHIKER”
• The nuclear-powered submarine “KAZAN”

The inclusion of the “KAZAN,” a submarine capable of launching cruise missiles and only operational since 2021, drew particular attention. However, Cuban authorities were quick to assure that none of the vessels carried nuclear weapons and insisted that their presence did not pose a threat to the region.

Implications and Regional Concerns

These repeated visits by Russian naval forces to Cuba inevitably evoke memories of Cold War tensions and raise questions about current geopolitical strategies. While both Cuba and Russia frame these engagements as routine and non-threatening, the frequency and nature of these visits – particularly the inclusion of advanced military hardware like nuclear submarines – may cause concern among neighboring countries and the United States.

The Cuban regime’s willingness to host these naval visits underscores its continued alignment with Russia, despite international pressure and economic challenges. For Russia, these port calls in the Caribbean serve multiple purposes, including:

• Demonstrating global reach and power projection capabilities
• Strengthening military ties with a strategically located ally
• Potentially gathering intelligence in proximity to U.S. shores

As these naval visits continue, they are likely to remain a point of interest and potential contention in Caribbean and broader American geopolitics.