Russian warships and at least one nuclear-powered submarine along with strategic bombers are being deployed off the US coast, according to US officials.
The Russian warships will head to Cuba and Venezuela, and after the exercises are completed, they will remain in the region until the end of the summer to conduct new exercises in the fall.
It is noted that Moscow did not warn Washington about these exercises and this military development seems to have a permanent basis.
The US Navy is trying to determine whether Russian warships and submarines are carrying nuclear missiles or carrying "special cargo" for Cuba and Venezuela.
“Russia Moves Fleet and Air Force for Military Exercises Due to Growing US Support for Kiev.
Russia shows that it is still capable of a certain level of global power projection ," say the same American sources.
A group of Russian ships, including a nuclear-powered multi-role submarine, will soon arrive in Cuba.
This is stated in a statement released by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba.
According to the announcement, a naval group of the Northern Fleet is crossing the Atlantic and heading for Cuba.
From June 12 to June 17, 2024, an official visit to the port of Havana will be made by a group of ships of the Russian Navy, consisting of four vessels. This visit is related to the historic friendly relations between Cuba and Russia and strictly adheres to international norms," the Cuban Defense Ministry said, adding that there are no nuclear weapons on the Russian ships.
Are the Russians telling the truth? Why is there no official announcement from Moscow? Is it just these ships or are there other Russian submarines in the area?
The Cuban Ministry of Defense was the first to announce the arrival of the Russian warships. As of late Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry or Northern Fleet had not made any official announcement regarding Havana as the first destination for the trip, which is said to last "several months"…
CBS News cites a US official as saying long-range strategic bombers will also take part in the exercises.
"These will be the first simultaneous air and naval exercises Russia has conducted in the Caribbean since 2019.
The US interprets it as a response to US support for Ukraine and the intensification of US exercises with NATO allies,” notes CBS News.
Russia is reportedly sending the 22350 Admiral Gorshkov-class frigate carrying Zircon supersonic missiles, the Yasen-M Kazan-class nuclear-powered submarine, the Akademik Pashin tanker and the Nikolai Chiker rescue tug.
Admiral Gorshkov is the first vessel of Russia's latest class of frigates. The warship that entered service in 2018 carries Zircon, Kalibr and Oniks cruise missiles, as well as Otvet anti-submarine missiles.
Recently, the commander of the US Army's Northcom force, General Glen VanHerc, said before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
"Russia is increasingly deploying Yasen submarines in the region. The risk absolutely increases. In the last year, Russia has also "deployed" the Yasen in the Pacific," he noted.
“Now, not only in the Atlantic, but we have them in the Pacific, and it's just a matter of time – probably a year or two – before this is a persistent threat.
This impact reduces the decision-making space for the leader once in a crisis period ," he added.
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