America provides submarine to Cuba following arrival of Russian vessels


(MENAFN) Following the arrival of a four-ship Russian task force in Havana, an American attack submarine, USS Helena of the Los Angeles-class, docked at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba on Thursday for what the United States Southern Command described as a routine port visit.

According to a statement from SOUTHCOM, the visit of USS Helena was part of its pre-planned global maritime security and national defense mission. The submarine’s presence in Guantanamo Bay comes amid heightened tensions spurred by the recent arrival of Russian naval vessels near United States shores.

The Russian task force, led by the missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov and including the Yasen-class nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, sailed into Havana the previous day. Accompanying the fleet were two support ships, the oil tanker Pashin and the salvage tug Nikolay Chiker, marking what Moscow described as a long-range expedition aimed at asserting naval presence in strategic areas.

The arrival of USS Helena at Guantanamo Bay has been interpreted by some observers as a strategic move by Washington in response to the Russian naval deployment near Cuba. Reports from the Associated Press characterized this as a demonstration of United States military strength in reaction to Russian activities perceived as provocative.

While the Russian Defense Ministry has not provided detailed explanations about the mission of its naval flotilla, speculation in the United States has intensified regarding its potential implications, especially in the context of ongoing tensions surrounding Ukraine. White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby recently commented on the situation, emphasizing that the United States does not anticipate nuclear threats but views the Russian naval presence as a signal of displeasure towards American policies related to Ukraine.

As both naval powers assert their presence in the Caribbean, the strategic implications and diplomatic responses to these maneuvers continue to evolve, reflecting broader geopolitical dynamics and regional security concerns.

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