Russian Navy Docks In Cuba, Moscow Carries Out Nuclear Exercise With Belarus To Send "A Message To Washington"
Russian Navy Docks In Cuba, Moscow Carries Out Nuclear Exercise With Belarus To Send "A Message To Washington"
Russian state-run media reported that the purpose of the visit to Havana, Cuba, and the nuclear drills was to send a message to Washington.
RUSSIA/CUBA - Russian vessels have docked in Havana, Cuba for a planned visit, while Russian nuclear forces carry out joint exercises with Belarus to send “a message to Washington”.
Four Russian vessels, including a nuclear-powered submarine, a fleet sea tanker, a salvage tug, and a frigate docked in Havana, Cuba for a planned visit from June 12th, to June 17th, 2024.
The Cuban government reports none of the vessels will be carrying nuclear weapons, and says that the visit does not pose a regional threat, Cuba is located about 90 miles from its closest point to the United States.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby said that there is no indication that nuclear weapons will be involved in the military exercises, or deployed on any of the participating vessels.
Of the Russian vessels the Cuban government says will be visiting Havana are:
The Admiral Gorshkov Frigate
Kazan Nuclear-powered Submarine
Pashin Fleet Sea Tanker
Nikolai Chiker Salvage Tug
Although none of the Russian vessels is expected to be armed with nuclear missiles, Admiral Gorshkov is armed with Russia's new Zircon hypersonic missiles which can be used to target both ground targets and vessels.
U.S. military vessels reported to be tracking the Russian forces in the region included:
The USS Truxtun destroyer
USS Donald Cook Guided-missile destroyer
(USCGC) Stone - US Coast Guard patrol vessel
P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance plane for surveillance
On new sanctions by the United States against Russia, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said, “As always in such cases, Russia will not leave such aggressive actions unanswered”.