Russian nuclear-powered submarine, other vessels dock in Havana

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
12 Jun 2024 19:56
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The Russian nuclear-powered submarine and accompanying naval vessels have arrived in Havana, Cuba, and their crew is expected to engage in a number of protocol events.

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In this photo taken from a video released by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, June 11, 2024, the Russian Navy's Admiral Gorshkov frigate is seen en route to Cuba. (AP)

The Russian nuclear-powered submarine, Kazan, alongside other naval vessels, has made its way to Cuba as part of a formerly announced five-day visit to Havana.

According to Cuba, the Russian submarine was not carrying nuclear weapons and was accompanied by the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, as well as an oil tanker and a salvage tug.

Prior to entering the port in Havana, the fleet issued a statement saying it "completed an exercise on the use of high-precision missile weapons."

Moreover, the Russian Defense Ministry noted that "In the coming days, the crews of the ships and support vessels will take part in a number of protocol events."

In parallel, during a meeting between Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, the former expressed Havana's "rejection of the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) towards the Russian border," adding that it "led to the current conflict in Europe, and especially between Moscow and Kiev."

Moreover, Rodriguez urged for a "diplomatic, constructive and realistic solution" to the war in Ukraine.

Russian navy vessels to arrive in Havana on June 12: Cuban MoFA

Earlier, on Thursday, the Cuban Foreign Ministry announced that a detachment of four Russian naval vessels, including the Admiral Gorshkov frigate and the Kazan nuclear submarine, were anticipated to arrive in Havana on an official visit from June 12-17.

In a statement, at the time, the Ministry said that "a naval detachment from the Russian Federation consisting of four vessels — the frigate GORSHKOV; the nuclear-powered submarine KAZAN; the PASHIN fleet sea tanker and the salvage tug NIKOLAI CHIKER — will pay an official visit to the port of Havana from June 12 to 17, 2024."

The visit comes on the grounds of historical relations between the two countries and strictly complies with international regulations, the statement said, adding that "none of the vessels carries nuclear weapons. Therefore, their stop-over in our country does not represent any threat to the region."

Russian sailors are expected to pay a courtesy call on the Cuban Revolutionary Navy commander and Havana's governor, according to the statement.