According to Cuban information, a nuclear-powered submarine is said to have been at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay a few days ago. The government in Havana speaks of a “provocative escalation”.
The US is said to have recently stationed a nuclear submarine at its naval base in Guantanamo Bay on Cuba’s east coast. This was announced by the Cuban Foreign Ministry. A statement said the submarine was at the US naval base from July 5-8.
The action was a “provocative escalation” by the United States, “whose political and strategic motives are unknown”. The ministry warned of the “danger of the presence” of nuclear submarines by US forces in the nearby Caribbean.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller merely stated that “we continue to fly, drive or otherwise bring our military assets where appropriate under international law.”
The AP news agency reported more details about the submarine’s whereabouts in Guantanamo Bay, citing a US official who wished to remain anonymous. It had only made a logistics stop and then continued to take part in the UNITAS manoeuvre. This is a naval exercise by several navies led by the USA.
Prison camp at Guantanamo Bay
The US naval base at Guantanamo Bay is also home to the Guantanamo detention center set up by the US after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York and Washington. Cuba has long urged the US to close its naval base in the eastern part of the island, as well as the military prison built there.
Guantanamo Bay is located in the southeast of the island.
Closer relations between Cuba and Russia again
Cuba’s protest comes against the background of closer relations between Cuba and Russia. Bilateral projects and senior official visits have increased somewhat.
During the Cold War, the then Soviet Union maintained listening stations in Cuba to spy on the United States. When the Soviet Union stationed nuclear missiles in Cuba in 1962, it led to one of the most dangerous crises of the Cold War. Moscow finally withdrew the medium-range missiles.