The Justin Trudeau administration on Monday said the visit of its patrol ship to Havana was meant to send a message of deterrence to Moscow.
The Canadian Liberal government has been criticised by opposition legislators for sending a patrol ship to Havana while Russian vessels were there.
In response, the Justin Trudeau administration on Monday said the visit was meant to send a message of deterrence to Moscow.
The Canadian navy patrol ship sailed into the harbor early on Friday, two days after the arrival of a Russian nuclear-powered submarine and a frigate. Canada and the United States said they were closely monitoring the vessels.
Defence Minister Bill Blair told reporters "The deployment... sends a very clear message that Canada has a capable and deployable military and we will not hesitate to do what is required to protect our national interest."
"Canadian Armed Forces will continue to track the movements and activities of the Russian ships," he added. "Presence is deterrence. We were present."
Both the U.S. and Cuba say the Russian warships pose no threat to the region. Russia has also characterised the arrival of its warships in allied Cuba as routine.
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