Russia’s Naval Flotilla in the Americas: Saber-rattling and Strengthening Relationships

Moscow's latest naval operations in the America's come amid a growing sense of insecurity at home

Russia’s Admiral Gorshkov, sailing into Havana’s Bay. Image Source.

A Russian naval flotilla called at Cuba’s port at Havana on June 12 after conducting missile drills in the Atlantic Ocean. On June 17, after concluding military exercises in the Caribbean, the vessels left Cuba; their destination is unknown, but some suspect they may be heading to Venezuela, another Russian ally in the region.

The Russian vessels passed within 30 miles of the US coast in southern Florida. However, Washington claims that the exercises do not pose a threat to the US and that they are routine naval visits. The US and Canada have deployed multiple naval and air assets to actively monitor the movement and activity of the Russian flotilla and sent at least one submarine to Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. This Russian deployment comes as relations between Moscow and the West are at their lowest since the Cold War. It is largely a symbolic attempt by Russia to project power and maintain relations with its key allies in the Americas.

Russian Deployment

The Russian flotilla comprises four vessels from the Northern Fleet: a nuclear-powered submarine, a frigate, an oil tanker, and a tugboat. The frigate, Admiral Gorshkov, is armed with Russia’s recently introduced ‘Zircon’ hypersonic missiles, which can carry nuclear payloads. The submarine and warship are among Russia’s most advanced naval assets, carrying cruise and anti-ship missiles.

Whether the naval group will head to Venezuela or go elsewhere is unknown, but Moscow claims it has a long-distance deployment plan. The submarine Kazan was sighted off the west coast of Scotland before it arrived in Cuba. Last year, General Glen VanHerck, the former head of the US Northern Command, warned that Russia would have the capacity to deploy a nuclear cruise missile attack submarine off the US Atlantic and Pacific coasts on a year-round basis within a year or two. He added, “that impact (of the submarine presence) has reduced decision space for a national senior leader in a time of crisis.”

The Cuba visit was not only for wargames but also an opportunity for the two countries to shore up relations. Russia–Cuba relations have been characterized by periods of close cooperation and strategic alignment since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. Cuba was a vital ally of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, receiving substantial economic aid. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, relations between Russia and Cuba cooled, and the halt in aid to the embargoed island plunged it into a deep economic crisis.

In recent years, Moscow has sought to revive and strengthen its ties with Havana, once again providing it with economic assistance and energy cooperation. This support comes as Cuba endures one of its worst economic crises in decades, with nearly 500,000 Cubans having left the country and for the US since 2022. Russia’s influence in Havana has surged as a result, and military cooperation between the two countries will likely continue to increase. A recent example of Russia’s supposed influence is instances of the so-called ‘Havana syndrome’ phenomenon, wherein US diplomatic workers at the American interests section in Cuba report mysterious hearing and neurological symptoms. According to a year-long journalistic investigation, Moscow’s military intelligence, the GRU, is responsible for the phenomena through the use of acoustic weapons.

If the flotilla does reach Venezuela, it will also reinforce strategic military and economic ties between the two old allies, who have also shared rocky relations at times. Russia and Venezuela possess some of the world’s largest crude oil reserves, and the two recently announced that they would cooperate in the “peaceful use of nuclear energy.”

Russian nuclear-powered submarine Kazan entering Havana’s Bay on June 12. Image Source

Geopolitical Tensions between the US and Russia

Geopolitical tensions between the US and Russia have been surging on multiple fronts, most recently due to Washington’s authorization that Ukraine may use US-made weapons to strike targets inside Russia. Although this policy has been implemented under limited terms to assist Ukraine’s defense of Kharkiv against a Russian offensive, Moscow does not see it as a limited escalation.

This latest move marks the first time that a US administration has allowed limited strikes on a nuclear-armed adversary and comes amid a barrage of Ukrainian attacks on Russia that have systematically targeted energy infrastructure, successfully causing disruptions in the industry. Moscow has warned that it will retaliate to the change in policy, and its latest naval deployment to the Americas is likely a signal that it could also place sophisticated and deadly weapons within range of the US.

Washington plans to send another Patriot missile system to Ukraine after providing it with one earlier this year. Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenskyy has called for seven more of these systems to defend against Russian attacks. Last week, the US lifted its ban on providing training and weapons to Ukraine’s infamous Azov Brigade. The brigade has a chequered history with allegations of human rights violations and far-right leanings, and US law disallows the provision of weaponry and training to foreign military units accused of human rights violations. Moscow frequently uses the brigade’s presence to push its narrative that Ukraine has strong links to neo-Nazis.

This naval deployment also comes as the Group of 7 (G7) countries have agreed to use frozen Russian assets to raise money for Ukraine’s war effort. With over $300 billion in Russian assets frozen and generating approximately $3 billion in interest annually, these funds will help Ukraine pay off the interest on its latest $50 billion loan from G7 member states. The US and Ukraine also signed a 10-year bilateral security deal wherein Washington has agreed to help Kyiv build and maintain its defense and deterrence capabilities while improving its industrialization and energy security.

Moscow faces additional regional security challenges amid a weakening of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a military alliance between Russia and post-Soviet states. Last week, Armenia stated that it would exit the organization upon the revelation that CSTO partner and close Russian ally Belarus had supplied weapons to Azerbaijan, its bitter enemy. Armenia’s growing turn toward the West, including France, will likely further inflame regional tensions. Although this development did not likely influence the Russian flotilla’s deployment, it did make the flotilla’s strategic aim of strengthening Russian foreign relations more critical.

A Ukrainian attack on the Taneco refinery in Tatarstan, 1,300 km from the frontlines. The attack resulted in a 14% loss in Russia’s refining capacity. Image Source

The Kazan and Admiral Gorshkov. Image Source

Conclusion

Russian naval assets visiting the Americas and conducting war games in the Atlantic is an attempt by Moscow to project force outward amid rising security concerns at home. While not directly threatening the US, it demonstrates Russia’s capacity to do so while demonstrating to its citizens that the country remains a global hegemon. With no end in sight for the war in Ukraine, moves such as these could become increasingly common in an increasingly intense geopolitical environment.