Russian warships recently conducted drills in the Atlantic as they headed towards a visit to Cuba, showcasing Moscow’s power projection amidst tensions with the West over Ukraine. The Admiral Gorshkov frigate and the Kazan nuclear-powered submarine participated in the exercise, simulating a missile strike on enemy ships more than 600 kilometers away. The Admiral Gorshkov is equipped with Zircon hypersonic missiles, capable of speeds nine times faster than the speed of sound and with a range of over 1,000 kilometers.
Accompanied by two support vessels, the Russian warships are set to visit Havana, with Cuban officials highlighting the historically friendly relations between Russia and Cuba. The Cuban Foreign Ministry assured that the warships would not carry nuclear weapons and posed no threat to the region. This visit comes after the U.S. announced it had been tracking Russian warships and aircraft expected to arrive in the Caribbean for a military exercise.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s warning about responding to Ukraine’s Western allies potentially arming Kyiv has heightened tensions, with Russia potentially providing similar weapons to adversaries of the West. While the presence of Russian warships in the Caribbean is not uncommon, this recent visit to Cuba underscores Moscow’s efforts to assert its influence in the region. The drills in the Atlantic serve as a reminder of Russia’s military capabilities and intentions amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.
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