[Regnum] Ships of the Russian Baltic Fleet will enter the port of Havana on July 27, the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba reported on Facebook (owned by the Meta company, which is recognized as extremist and banned in the Russian Federation).
“Ships of the Baltic Fleet of the Russian Federation will arrive at the port of Havana, including the training ship Smolny, the patrol frigate Neustrashimy and the tanker Yelnya,” the department said.
They added that the ships will stay in the capital's port on a working visit from July 27 to 30. During this time, the Russian sailors will meet with the head of the Cuban Navy, the authorities of Havana, and see the city's sights. Local residents will be able to board the Smolny ship on July 28 and 29, the Defense Ministry noted.
meet with the head of the Cuban Navy aboard the official '57 Chevy on pontoons
As reported by Regnum News Agency, on June 12, the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the nuclear submarine Kazan, the tanker Akademik Pashin and the rescue tug Nikolai Chiker of the Northern Fleet of the Russian Navy entered the port of Havana. According to the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy, Admiral Alexander Moiseyev, the visit took place within the framework of international cooperation. On June 11, the submarine Kazan and the frigate Admiral Gorshkov practiced the use of high-precision missile weapons in the Atlantic during exercises.
The arrival of Russian Northern Fleet ships in the port of Havana caused a stir among Cubans. Residents gathered on the embankment in front of the Sierra Maestra pier to watch them. Visitors were allowed on board the Russian military ships.
According to CBS News, the US, for its part, sent its naval ships to spy on the Russian ships' visit to Cuba. British defence expert Ian Ballantyne called the Russian submarine in Cuba a "threatening" signal to the West. The expert noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin intends to use his fleet as a powerful global political and military instrument.
On June 14, the US Navy attack submarine USS Helena entered the US naval base in Guantanamo, Cuba. In turn, former US President Donald Trump considered the arrival of Russian Navy ships in Cuba unthinkable.
The press secretary of the Russian president, Dmitry Peskov, noted that such visits, like Russian exercises in different regions of the world, are normal practice, and therefore there is no reason for concern.