WASHINGTON: A report released by the United States (US) think tank claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to “invoke the historical memory of the Cuban Missile Crisis” by deploying nuclear-capable warships into Caribbean waters.
Earlier this week, it was disclosed that Moscow would dispatch several Russian ships and support vessels to conduct a military exercise in the Caribbean. Among the vessels scheduled to arrive in Cuba next week are the Admiral Gorshkov frigate, the Kazan nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine, the Academic Pashin replenishment oiler, and the Nikolai Chiker rescue tub.
These ships are expected to dock in Havana between June 12 and 17 before proceeding south to Venezuela later in the month. The Russian Ministry of Defense, as cited by the US think tank Institute for the Study of War, stated that the aim of the naval exercise is to maintain a Russian naval presence in “operationally important areas of the far ocean.”
The proximity of Russian ships to the United States during a time of heightened global tension has led observers to draw comparisons to the Cuban missile crisis of 1962. Back then, the world was on edge when U-2 spy planes captured images of Soviet ballistic missiles in Cuba. In response, the US established a naval “quarantine” to isolate Cuba and prevent Soviet ships from entering Cuban waters.
Putin’s decision to deploy ships from his Northern Fleet has prompted speculation regarding his long-term international strategy.
During his address at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum on Thursday, Putin highlighted Russia’s nuclear doctrine, stating, “We have a nuclear doctrine. Look what it says: If someone’s actions threaten our sovereignty and territorial integrity, we consider it possible for us to use all means at our disposal. This should not be taken lightly, superficially.”
The assessment pointed out that Russia’s choice to visit countries with historically strained relationships with the US, such as Cuba and Venezuela, is aimed at encouraging the US to exercise self-restraint and refrain from policies that could further support Ukraine. This comes after reports on Monday suggested that Ukraine had utilized US weapons to target locations within Russia, purportedly to defend Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.
