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An American attack submarine has arrived at the US base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a day following the arrival of a four-ship Russian task force in Havana on a long-range expedition.
The USS Helena, a Los Angeles-class submarine, docked on Thursday for what the US Southern Command described as a "routine port visit." SOUTHCOM stated that the submarine's location and transit were previously planned, and it is currently engaged in its global maritime security and national defense mission.
The arrival of the submarine has been characterized by the Associated Press as a "show of force" by Washington in response to the presence of Russian ships in close proximity to US shores.
The Russian Navy's Northern Fleet sent a four-vessel task force to Havana on Wednesday, led by the missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov and accompanied by the Yasen-class nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, two of Russia's most modern naval assets. Two support ships, the oil tanker Pashin and salvage tug Nikolay Chiker, also accompanied the task force on its journey to the Caribbean.
The purpose of the Russian flotilla's mission has not been further clarified by the Russian Defense Ministry, leading to speculation in the US that its presence may be related to actions taken by Washington and its allies in Ukraine.
The Cuban government has confirmed that the Russian ships were not equipped with nuclear missiles and that their mission complied with international law.
While en route to Cuba, the Gorshkov and the Kazan conducted long-range sea strike exercises, while several US Navy vessels monitored them from a distance. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh emphasized that while the US takes these exercises seriously, they do not pose a threat to the country.
The Kazan was commissioned in 2021, while the Gorshkov entered service in 2018. In contrast, the USS Helena dates back to 1987.
Prior to the USS Helena's deployment to Cuba, the US Navy reported the death of one of its crew members last month. The body of Sonar Technician Submarine 3rd Class Timothy Sanders was found on board the submarine while it was stationed at Naval Station Norfolk on May 24. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) is currently investigating the case.
