Russian Warships And Submarines Are In Cuba Until Next Week, Kremlin: No Need To Worry

JAKARTA - Russian officials said on Our Day the United States had nothing to worry about the presence of their two warships in Cuba, assessing the West appears deaf to any diplomatic signal from Moscow and only pays attention when troops or navys take action.

A naval frigate and a Russian nuclear-powered submarine docked at Havana port on Wednesday, a stopoff that the US and Cuba said pose no threat, but was widely seen as a show of Russian power as tensions escalated over Ukraine's war.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said there was no evidence Russia transferred any missiles to Cuba, but the US would remain vigilant.

When asked about Washington's alleged admiration for Russian fear of transferring military personnel to Cuba or even establishing a military base on the island, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said such exercises were common practice.

"This is a normal practice for all countries, including great maritime powers like Russia," Peskov told reporters.

"So we see no reason to worry in this case," he said.

On Russia Day, a detachment of ships of the Northern Fleet consisting of the frigate "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov", the nuclear submarine missile cruiser "Kazan", the medium sea tanker "Akademik Pashin" and the rescue tug vessel "Nikolai Chiker" arrived on… pic.twitter.com/yGAkH5lyIw

— John Spectator (@johnspectator) June 12, 2024

On Russia Day, a dedication of ships of the Northern Fleet consolidating of the frigate "Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov", the nuclear submarine missile destroyer "Kazan", the medium sea sea tanker "Akadempik Pashin" and the rescue tug vehicle "Nikolai Chiker" arrived on... pic.twitter.com/ygakH5lyIw

The Admiral Gorshkov frigate and the Kazan nuclear-powered submarine, half-drowned with its crew on the deck, sailed to Havana port on Wednesday after conducting "high-precision missile weapons" training in the Atlantic Ocean. Both were accompanied by tugboats and logistics vessels.

The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the ships were not carrying nuclear weapons, a statement echoed by US officials.

When asked what signals Moscow sent, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova said the West never paid attention when Russia sent signals via diplomatic channels.

"As soon as there is a exercise or sea cruise, we immediately hear questions and the desire to know what the contents of these messages are," said Zakharova.

"Why are only signals related to our army and navy reaching the West?"

"Why does the West remain completely deaf, and then carry out the most powerful campaign to prevent Russian signals from entering the realm of information?"

As previously reported, the Russian Ministry of Defense said the submarines and frigates were carrying Zircon hypersonic missiles, Kalibr cruise missiles, and Onyx anti-ship missiles.

Russian warships docked at the Havana cruise ship terminal on Thursday. Havana itself is only 100 miles (160 km) away from Key West, Florida, home to the US Navy Air Base.

The warships are expected to remain in Havana until June 17, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

A Canadian naval patrol boat HMCS Margaret Brooke, is also expected to arrive in Havana on Friday, Cuba and Canada said, to then anchor not far from Russian fleets inside ports.