[KARAH RUCKER]

HAVANA WELCOMED THREE RUSSIAN WARSHIPS WITH CANNON FIRE SATURDAY MARKING THEIR SECOND VISIT TO CUBAN WATERS IN AS MANY MONTHS. THIS ONGOING MILITARY COLLABORATION HIGHLIGHTS THE DEEPENING TIES BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CUBA, WITH THE FLEET—INCLUDING A TRAINING SHIP, A PATROL FRIGATE, AND A REFUELING TANKER—DOCKING UNTIL TUESDAY.

THIS VISIT FOLLOWS CLOSELY ON THE HEELS OF LAST MONTH’S DEPLOYMENT, THAT SAW A FLEET INCLUDING A NUCLEAR-POWERED SUBMARINE AS PART OF PLANNED MILITARY EXERCISES.

THE PRESENCE OF RUSSIAN MILITARY VESSELS IN THE CARIBBEAN COMES AMIDST HEIGHTENED U.S. AND WESTERN BACKING FOR UKRAINE — EXPERTS VIEW THESE VISITS AS SYMBOLIC GESTURES OF POWER BY RUSSIA. THE U.S. MONITORED THE PREVIOUS FLEET’S ACTIVITIES CLOSELY BUT SAID THAT THEY POSED NO ACTUAL THREAT.

CUBA’S MILITARY CALLED THE WARSHIPS’ VISIT “ROUTINE” —  THOUGH SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES FOR THIS MISSION WERE NOT DISCLOSED.

THE PRESENCE OF THESE VESSELS HAS SPARKED SIGNIFICANT PUBLIC INTEREST, WITH MANY LOCALS FLOCKING TO THE PORT FOR A CLOSER LOOK, INCLUDING PUBLIC TOURS OFFERED ON THE RUSSIAN TRAINING SHIP.

THESE NAVAL VISITS HIGHLIGHT A STRONG BOND BETWEEN RUSSIA AND CUBA, BOTH CURRENTLY FACING SEVERE U.S. SANCTIONS.

RUSSIA IS USING ITS CLOSE TIES WITH CUBA TO STRENGTHEN ITS STRATEGIC POSITION CLOSE TO U.S. SHORES AND TO BOLSTER ITS GLOBAL STANDING AMID ONGOING INTERNATIONAL TENSIONS.

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