Russian ship ‘Kazan’ departs Havana, reminiscent of Cuban missile crisis
Russian Navy Ships Make Port Call in Havana, Cuba
The Russian Navy’s Yasen-class nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine named Kazan, the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the fuel ship Akademik Pashin, and the tugboat Nikolay Chiker recently made a port call in Havana, the capital of Cuba. The ships arrived in Havana and remained there until June 17.
In a joint statement from both Cuba and Russia, it was clarified that the visit was a standard practice carried out by navy ships of friendly countries and that the ships did not carry any nuclear weapons. The Russian Ministry of Defense also stated that the frigate and submarine conducted a missile exercise in the Atlantic Ocean while en route to Cuba.
An unnamed US official mentioned that the US closely monitored the routes of the Russian ships and concluded that they did not pose a direct threat to the United States. However, experts believe that the visit was more than just a routine stop and was seen as a demonstration of power by Russia, especially in light of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War.
The arrival of the Russian navy ships in Cuba has drawn parallels to the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. This historical event saw the Soviet Union deploy ballistic missiles to Cuba in response to the US placing missiles in Turkey, leading to a tense standoff that nearly resulted in nuclear war.
As the Russian navy ships bid farewell to Cuba, the images of their presence in Havana serve as a reminder of past conflicts and geopolitical tensions. The world watches closely as these events unfold, hoping for continued peace and stability in the region.
