Three warships from Russia’s Baltic Fleet arrived in Havana, Cuba this weekend for a four-day “working visit” to the communist country, reportedly due to conclude on Tuesday.
Russian state news agency TASS report On Saturday, three Russian Baltic Fleet warships, identified as training vessels, SmolnyPatrol boat Neustrahimyand offshore oil tankers Erinya — During the four-day visit, the ship will carry out an “extensive program” that will include courtesy calls on Cuban naval personnel and other officials of the communist Castro regime.
The Russian crew also visited Havana, according to According to the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba, it is “a place of historical and cultural interest.”
Cuban defense officials announced the latest port visit this week, calling it a “historic tradition” and a sign of “friendship and cooperation.” Neither government elaborated on the purpose of the latest deployment. Reportedly Greeted The Russian fleet arrived on Saturday to a spectacular gun salute.
The visit by the three ships marks the second time the Russian fleet has visited the communist nation in less than two months. In June, Russia sent of Admiral Gorshkov Frigates, nuclear submarines Kazanand two accompanying ships followed the convoy to Cuba. carried out Naval exercises in the Caribbean.
“The arrival of the ship aroused keen interest among the residents of Havana, who welcomed our sailors from the city’s embankments,” the Russian embassy in Cuba said. stated“Training ship”Smolny‘ will be open to the public from July 28-29.
⚓️ Este 27 de julio, en vísperas del Día de la Marina rusa, arribó al puerto de La Habana un destacamento de barcos de la Flota del Báltico formado por el buque escuela “Smolny”, patrullero “Neustrashimy” y petrolero “Yelnya”.
▶️Infection status: https://t.co/R1y7liBLSJ pic.twitter.com/WNcliCPwzg
— Embajada de Lucia Cuba (@EmbRusCuba) July 27, 2024
Like June’s visit, Castro government officials have not released detailed information about the Russian fleet’s latest port visit, describing it as part of a “historic practice between Caribbean nations and friendly nations.” An anonymous U.S. Northern Command spokesman said: Said Reuters reported that “Russia’s developments in the Atlantic pose no direct threat or concern to the United States.”
Russia, the largest donor to the ailing Castro regime, has consistently support As Russia continues its invasion of Ukraine and turns its longtime ideological ally against it, reports published since 2023 have shown that Cuban nationals are being actively drafted and sent to fight Ukraine for Russia under false pretenses and offered a fast track to Russian citizenship upon completion of military service.
The Castro government Claimed Last year, Bloomberg reported that it had “dismantled” a human trafficking network that was allegedly recruiting and sending Cubans to Russia under false pretenses. report Russia said in mid-July that it continues to enlist Cubans through “unofficial channels” and will eventually draft them into the fight against Ukraine.
In recent years, the Castro regime has sought increased aid from Russia to alleviate Cuba’s severe economic and humanitarian crisis caused by more than 60 years of communist misrule.
Since 2023, Russia has sent increasing amounts of the following supplies: Cooking oil and wheat Traveling to Cuba with Russian officials hopeful In March, Russia pledged to provide “steady supplies” of hydrocarbons, fertilizers and basic products to the country that collapsed under Communism. Resuming Castro’s regime has been using oil exports to Cuba as part of a desperate effort to ease ongoing fuel shortages and keep abandoned power plants running.
Officials from both governments Meeting Last week in Havana, they signed a contract to build a new oil refinery in Cuba that, if awarded, would join four other ageing refineries in the communist-ruled country.
“Cuba has oil. It makes sense to produce petroleum products here, rather than import them,” Alexander Babakov, deputy speaker of the Russian lower house of parliament, said. “Large Russian companies could take part here.”
Christian K. Caruso is a Venezuelan author documenting life under socialism. You can follow him on Twitter. here.
