The United States has confirmed that Russian warships and aircraft are expected to arrive in the Caribbean in the coming weeks for a military exercise. This move by Russia comes amidst escalating tensions over Western military support for Ukraine.
The Russian ships are anticipated to make port calls in Venezuela and Cuba as part of their military presence in the Western Hemisphere. However, senior Biden administration officials have stated that while notable, this development is not a cause for concern.
The upcoming exercise, which will involve a 'handful' of Russian ships and support vessels, will be closely monitored by the U.S. military.
This is not the first time Russia has deployed its ships to the Caribbean. The exercise coincides with Russian President Vladimir Putin's remarks about potential 'asymmetrical steps' in response to U.S. support for Ukraine.
Ukrainian military officials have reported significant losses to the Russian Black Sea fleet during the ongoing conflict. Despite Russia not notifying the U.S. in advance, the movements of the Russian ships have been tracked by the U.S. Navy.
While countries typically notify each other of such military exercises to prevent misunderstandings, the U.S. officials emphasized that conducting exercises in international waters is a common practice. In a similar vein, NATO countries, including the U.S., are set to commence a major naval and air exercise near Russia.
The U.S. officials anticipate that the Russian ships will remain in the region for the summer and may conduct additional exercises in the Caribbean following the upcoming one. Congress has been informed of the impending Russian exercises.
