Russian Warships to Conduct Drills in the Caribbean with Cuba and Venezuela, Escalating US Tensions

 As tensions between Moscow and Washington continue to rise over Russia’s actions in Ukraine, Moscow is now planning military drills near the US. A senior US official revealed on June 5 that Russia intends to send warships to the Caribbean this summer for naval exercises, which will likely include stops in Cuba and possibly Venezuela.

“We expect increased Russian naval and air activities near the US this summer as part of their regular military exercises, culminating in a global naval exercise this fall,” the official stated.

The official reassured that the US Navy would closely monitor these drills but does not see the involvement of a few ships and aircraft as a direct threat. He emphasized that these activities are routine for Russia, which aims to showcase its global military capabilities despite the expenses and challenges of maintaining an aging fleet.

Although Russia has not officially notified the US about these drills, the US Navy has been tracking Russian ship movements. Typically, countries inform each other of such activities to avoid miscalculations, but Russia opted not to do so this time.

Conducting military drills in international waters is not uncommon for Russia or other countries. For example, the US and nearly 20 NATO states are set to begin BALTOPS 24, a significant naval and aviation drill in the Baltic Sea, close to Russia. Even before the Ukraine invasion in February 2022, Russia conducted global drills, including Arctic protection exercises in 2022, naval drills in the Mediterranean, joint war games in Venezuela, and major drills off Siberia and Alaska.

This upcoming deployment to the Caribbean is notable as it follows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s pledge to respond globally to the US decision to allow Ukraine to use American-supplied weapons against Russia.

Russia has been strengthening ties with Cuba and Venezuela, both of which have long-standing tensions with the US. Cuba, one of the few countries not participating in international sanctions against Russia, has enhanced its relationship with Moscow since February 2022. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has condemned NATO’s expansion towards Russia and announced new economic cooperation with Russia. A Russian naval ship docked in Cuba in July 2023, and a Cuban delegation is currently visiting Russia.

Reports have also surfaced of Russia recruiting Cubans to fight in Ukraine since the latter half of last year.

Venezuela, another country with a strong cooperation history with Russia, has condemned US interference in its affairs. President Nicolas Maduro has accused the West of trying to weaken Russia by escalating the Ukraine war and criticized Western sanctions against Russia. In February, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Venezuela, emphasizing the need to strengthen comprehensive cooperation between the two nations and expressing support for Venezuela’s bid to join BRICS.

The US, which views Latin America and the Caribbean as vital to its security, is closely watching these developments as Russia continues to bolster its presence and alliances in the region.

Venezuelan Navy Chases Off Nuclear Sub: Chavez

CARACAS - The Venezuelan Navy this week chased off a "nuclear-powered submarine" that violated its territorial waters, President Hugo Chavez said, without pointing to any specific country.
In a televised call to state TV on Nov. 9, Chavez said naval forces had detected the submarine on Nov. 8 and pursued it, but "it escaped because it was much faster than ours."

"Obviously, given the speed and the velocity, it was a nuclear-powered submarine, but we are investigating," he added.
Chavez said his government had its "suspicions" concerning the origin of the vessel, but said "we are not accusing anyone" at the moment.
"We cannot say exactly who it was, because we have no evidence, but it was certainly a submarine," Chavez said.
He added that "the imperialists," referring to the United States, "have grown accustomed to strolling around the Caribbean and being all over the place, including by using satellites for espionage."
The fiery leftist Chavez has long accused the United States of meddling in Latin America and has cultivated ties with Washington's arch-foes, including Cuba and Iran.

Venezuela's Chavez Thanks Russia for Tanks

CARACAS - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez thanked Russia on Aug. 17 for its sale of 25 tanks and other arms to the South American country, saying they were needed for "defending our sovereignty."

"These arms from Russia, now in Venezuela, will be for defending our sovereignty. Thanks to Russia. A round of applause for Russia," he added, to applause, speaking at a military ceremony to receive the arms.

"I want to thank (Russian) President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister (Vladimir) Putin for these weapons manufactured in the Russian Federation, in sister Russia," Chavez said in a message broadcast by state TV.

The Venezuelan military received 25 tanks and hundreds of other weapons, according to generals present at the ceremony.

Between 2005 and 2007 Venezuela reached deals to buy $4 billion worth of arms from Russia, including Sukhoi fighter jets, combat helicopters and guns.

The Chavez government also secured a $2.2 billion loan in 2010 to purchase Russian T-72 tanks and an undisclosed number of S-300 antiaircraft missiles.

Chavez, a leftist firebrand who often rails against the "imperialist" United States, said Venezuela needed to guard its vast oil and mineral wealth. "We do not seek war with anyone, but we have to defend our country."

Spain Halts Military Chopper Sale to Iran: Police

MADRID - Spanish police halted the illegal export of nine Bell-112 military transport helicopters to Iran and detained eight people including three Iranians, they said May 26.
Police seized the U.S.-made helicopters and arrested five Spanish businessmen suspected of trying to export them along with three Iranians accused of negotiating the purchase of military materiel.

In the operation, dubbed "Nam,' they raided industrial warehouses in Madrid and Barcelona and snatched helicopters destined for Iran, police said in a statement.
They also seized aviation spare parts allegedly destined for export to Venezuela, police said.
Police estimated the total value of the helicopters, spares and other military materiel at about 100 million euros ($140 million).
Police said the aircraft were subject to European Union and Spanish controls and were banned for export by the United Nations.
With a top speed of 140 mph and an average range of 370 miles, the helicopters were designed to ferry troops and military equipment, police said.
The Spanish companies flouted export requirements, failing to obtain licenses for the export of military materiel or so-called dual-use goods that can have military applications, police said.
The firms knew the export of the aircraft and spare parts was banned, they said, accusing them of concealing them in the warehouses, owned by a syndicate of the Spaniards who had been detained.
The helicopters and spares were being prepared for assembly and disassembly before export to Iran and Venezuela, police said.
"They tried to protect the export sale, which could have resulted in revenue of about 100 million euros, under the cover of legal aviation repairs," the statement said.
Police said they found out about the arrival in Spain of the Iranian purchasers who had come to formalize the deal and they then launched an operation to arrest them.
They arrested five people in Madrid and three in Barcelona and raided another three addresses resulting in the seizure of the nine Bell helicopters, aviation materiel and spares and related documents.