Russian nuclear submarine Kazan docks in Cuba, US concerned
A group of Russian tactical ships, including the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, has docked at the Cuban port of Havana, beginning an official five-day visit to the South American country.
RIA Novosti reported that the Russian nuclear submarine Kazan entered Cuba's Havana port on June 12 (local time).
A four-ship tactical group of support vessels, which previously practiced using precision-guided missiles in the Atlantic, will make an official visit to Havana port from June 12 to 17. The Russian sailors are expected to meet with the Cuban Navy commander and the Governor of Havana.
The Russian Navy Commander-in-Chief said that the visit to Cuba is just one of the tasks of the long-distance journey and is carried out within the framework of international cooperation between the two countries.
Commenting on the event, the Cuban Foreign Ministry stressed that it demonstrated the friendly relations between Havana and Moscow, and strictly complied with international rules. The ministry stressed that none of the ships carried nuclear weapons, and their stay did not pose a threat to the region.
Regarding this event, retired US Army Colonel Lawrence Wilkerson commented that the current geopolitical situation around Cuba, where the Russian Navy ship arrived, is reminiscent of the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. The difference is that the US is no longer as powerful as it was during the Cold War.
"We've been in a similar situation before - in 1962. But the difference is that today we're much weaker. The only significant force we have left is more than 5,000 nuclear warheads. But every day it gets worse," Wilkerson said./.
