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Russian Warships Make Routine Visit To Cuba


A member of Havana's Russian community held a flag as a Russian nuclear-powered submarine entered the bay of the Cuban capital in the last Russian naval visit, on June 12.
A member of Havana's Russian community held a flag as a Russian nuclear-powered submarine entered the bay of the Cuban capital in the last Russian naval visit, on June 12.

Havana residents watched from shore on July 27 as Russian warships arrived for the second time in as many months, in a visit that Cuba called routine. The patrol ship Neustrahimy, training vessel Smolny, and support vessels, all from the Baltic Fleet, are scheduled to depart on July 30. A Russian nuclear submarine, frigate, and support ships in June also flexed Moscow's muscles in the port of Havana, less than 160 kilometers from Florida. Russian naval activity -- though routine in the Atlantic -- has ratcheted up because of Washington's support for Ukraine, U.S. officials say. Relations between Cold War allies Russia and Cuba have markedly improved as the communist-run country battles an economic crisis it claims is due mainly to U.S. sanctions.

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