Russian Navy Ships Arrives in Cuba

A Russian naval convoy, including a nuclear-powered submarine, arrived in Cuba on the morning of June 12 (local time), a sign of strengthening relations between the two countries.

The Gorshkov enters the port of La Habana, Cuba. Photo: NBC

The Russian frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the first of four ships, fired a 21-gun salute after entering Havana harbor. The Gorshkov is one of the most modern ships in the Russian Navy, followed by the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, a rescue tugboat and an oil tanker. The Cuban side also fired a cannon salute from an ancient fortress built by the Spanish in the 18th century to protect the port.

Crowds lined the beach to watch the ships arrive. According to CNN, members of Cuba's Russian community and Russian diplomats carrying Russian flags also came out to greet the ships. Many Cubans said they had never seen a submarine enter Havana Bay before.

Four Russian ships are currently moored at cruise ship docks. The ships will make a five-day official visit to Cuba, less than 200km from the US state of Florida.

Cubans will be allowed to visit the destroyer Gorshkov for four hours a day for three days, a Russian diplomat said. The Gorshkov is capable of long-range, anti-submarine warfare missions and carries surface-to-surface and surface-to-air missiles and other weapons systems. The Russian Defense Ministry said that on the way to Cuba, the Russian warships conducted exercises in the Atlantic Ocean.

The US has deployed ships and aircraft to monitor Russian military exercises in the Atlantic and Caribbean. Pentagon and State Department officials have stressed that Russia's activities are routine and do not pose a threat to the US.

HUY QUOC

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/doan-tau-hai-quan-nga-cap-cang-cuba-post744395.html