Cuban officials said four Russian warships, including a nuclear-powered submarine, will arrive in Havana next week, citing "historically friendly relations" between both nations and as tensions escalate over Western military support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.
In a news release Cuba's foreign ministry said the ships will be in Havana between June 12 and June 17, noting that none of them will carry any nuclear weapons and assuring their presence "does not represent a threat to the region".
The announcement came a day after US officials said Washington had been tracking Russian warships and aircraft that were expected to arrive in the Caribbean for a military exercise.
They said the exercise would be part of a broader Russian response to the U.S. support for Ukraine.
The officials said the Russian military presence was notable but not concerning.
But it's taking place as Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that Moscow could take "asymmetrical steps" elsewhere in the world in response to US President Joe Biden's decision to allow Ukraine to use US-provided weapons to strike inside Russia to protect Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city.