US Submarine Arrives In Guantanamo Bay, Near US Base In Cuba
US Submarine Arrives In Guantanamo Bay, Near US Base In Cuba
The Department of Defense said the Pentagon has been tracking Russia's plans for carrying the exercises in the region and that the visit wasn't a surprise.
CUBA - A U.S. Navy nuclear-powered fast attack submarine has arrived in Guantanamo Bay, near the American base in Cuba as part of what U.S. Southern Command says is a "routine visit", but coincides with a visit by four Russian naval vessels, including one of its nuclear-powered submarines, which Moscow says is intended to send a message to Washington, along with its recent joint nuclear exercises with Belarus.
U.S. Southern Command released a statement that said, "The fast-attack submarine USS Helena is in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba as part of a routine port visit as it transits the U.S. Southern Command geographic area of responsibility while conducting its global maritime security and national defense mission. The vessel's location and transit were previously planned."
Although the United States stated that the Russian visit to Cuba did not pose a threat to the U.S. and that none of the vessels appeared to be carrying nuclear weapons, the ships were shadowed and tracked by the U.S. forces during their voyage to the port in Havana, Cuba.