Russian warships, including nuclear submarine, to arrive in Havana next week

Cuban officials assured the visit is routine and "does not represent a threat to the region."

The deployment of the powerful Kazan submarine and accompanying ships comes amid heightened tensions between Russia and the West over the war in Ukraine. Notably, Cuba and the United States are geographically close, with only 90 miles separating them at their nearest point.

This move follows Russian President Vladimir Putin's recent suggestion of "asymmetrical" actions if Western nations provide Ukraine with weapons used on Russian soil. The US maintains these weapons are for defensive purposes within Ukraine's borders.

While the US doesn't view the arrival as a threat, a US official confirmed plans to monitor the situation. The other Russian vessels include the frigate Gorshkov, a tanker, and a salvage tug.

Cuba's relationship with Russia has strengthened in recent years, with leaders meeting in 2022 and again this May. During the Cold War, Cuba was a key Soviet ally, and the placement of Soviet nuclear missiles there in 1962 led to the near-catastrophic Cuban Missile Crisis. (ILKHA)