Geopolitics, Pawns and Intrigue

“The Cold War is over but Cold War thinking survives.”- Joseph Rotblat. Timing is everything. Russia has sent warships to Cuba in the past and the two nations are long-standing allies but the timing of this latest exercise has sent ripples all the way to Washington. The arrival of the Russian warships comes amid growing tensions over Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The operation is being interpreted by some as sabre-rattling by Moscow. This current scenario has many elements of the Cold War era. To say there is a deep sense of distrust between Washington and Moscow would be an understatement. This sense of misgiving between both countries has worsened since Russia invaded Ukraine. The subsequent fallout from the current war has the world on edge especially those North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members’ countries across Europe. A fleet of Russian warships arrived in Cuban waters ahead of planned military exercises in the Caribbean that some see as a projection of strength as tensions grow over Western support for Ukraine. The fleet, made up of a frigate, a nuclear-powered submarine, an oil tanker and a rescue tug, crossed into Havana Bay after drills in the Atlantic Ocean. The flagship frigate, adorned with the Russian and Cuban flags, was greeted by a 21-cannon salute. A well respected international media house reported that the four Russian ships docked in berths usually occupied by cruise ships. It marks the largest show of force by the Russians with their longstanding ally Cuba in many years. The US assesses that the Kazan does not have nuclear weapons on board. The Kazan, a nuclear-powered cruise missile submarine, is one of a relatively new class of subs that has worried the US and Western militaries for years because of its stealth and strike capabilities. The vessels will carry out a five-day official visit to the Caribbean island. The timing of this year’s mission may serve Russia’s purposes, but it is also raising questions of whether Venezuela’s government may use it as an opportunity to shore up President Nicolás Maduro’s bid for a third term in the July 28 election. Venezuela is currently in a state of economic and political instability. Maduro’s presidency has been marked with economic upheavals and instability. It should be interesting how the electorate votes next month. Will Venezuela return to democracy or continue on a path to dictatorship? A US State Department spokesperson told the AP that Russia’s port calls in Cuba are “routine naval visits,” while acknowledging its military exercises “have ratcheted up because of U.S. support to Ukraine and exercise activity in support of our NATO allies.” The Cold War. The Cold War was a period of geopolitical tension and competition between the United States and the Soviet Union, as well as their respective allies, which lasted from the end of World War II in 1945 until the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. This period was characterized by political, economic, and military standoffs, as both superpowers sought to assert their influence and spread their ideologies across the globe. Coincidence?. Interestingly, a US Navy nuclear-powered attack submarine arrived in Cuba on Thursday according to the Pentagon. This means that the American combat submarine and Russia’s nuclear submarine are both in Cuba at the same time. US Southern Command said that fast attack submarine USS Helena is presently in Guantanamo Bay as part of a routine port visit while conducting a global maritime security and national defense mission. The Helena is a Los Angeles-class submarine, a class of nuclear-powered boats that make up the backbone of the Navy's sub force. It was commissioned in the late 1980s and can be armed with torpedoes, Tomahawk land-attack cruise missiles, and Harpoon anti-ship missiles. A spokesperson for SOUTHCOM said that the Helena's arrival in Cuba was not a direct response to the Russian naval vessels. "Russia's activities pose no threat or concern to the United States, and we see no reason to alter previously planned, routine activity in response to Russian activity in the region," they said. US Tracking . En route to Cuba, the Russian warships conducted drills in the Atlantic, the Russian Ministry of Defense said Tuesday. The crews of the frigate and the nuclear submarine missile cruiser practiced the use of high-precision missile weapons using computer simulation for naval targets, designating ship groupings of a simulated enemy located at a distance of over 600 km, according to the Russian state media TASS reports. US officials told reporters that the US military had deployed ships and planes to monitor Russia’s military exercises in the Atlantic and the Caribbean, and has been tracking the Russian vessels as they transited the Atlantic in recent days en route to Cuba. US Navy ships that have been tracking the Russian vessels include the USS Truxtun, the USS Donald Cook, and Coast Guard vessel the USCGC Stone, the US official confirmed. The US has also deployed air assets, including a P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance plane, to circle overhead the Russian vessels. Canada has also deployed assets to monitor the activity. US Widens Sanctions on Russia. The United States widened its sanctions against Russia Wednesday as G7 leaders prepared to gather in Italy for a summit where the top priorities will be boosting support for Ukraine and slowing down Russia’s war machine. Wednesday’s package targeted Chinese companies which help Russia pursue its war in Ukraine and raised the stakes for foreign financial institutions which work with sanctioned Russian entities. It also targeted Russia’s financial infrastructure, in an attempt to limit the amount of money flowing in and out of Russia. Shortly after the sanctions were made public, the Moscow Exchange announced it would suspend transactions in dollars and euros. While sanctions have not stopped the flow of illicit goods, the aim is to make it harder for Russia to source crucial technology as well as drive up the markup on the goods. Wednesday’s package targets more than $100 million in trade between Russia and suppliers for its war. More than 300 new sanctions are largely aimed at deterring individuals and companies in countries including China, the United Arab Emirates and Turkey from helping Moscow circumvent Western blocks on obtaining key technology. US Embargo on Cuba. The United States maintains a comprehensive economic embargo on the Republic of Cuba. In February 1962, President John F. Kennedy proclaimed an embargo on trade between the United States and Cuba, in response to certain actions taken by the Cuban Government, and directed the Departments of Commerce and the Treasury to implement the embargo, which remains in place today. Cuba’s action by allowing Russia to dock their warships in their territorial waters has not done themselves any favour regarding the lifting of the embargo. In fact, Cuba’s action might strengthen those who believe the embargo should remain in place. Cuba is a small developing State. It is clear as crystal that Russia is once again using Cuba’s proximity to the United States of America to send a message. Cuba has long had good relations with Russia. It was a key ally to the former Soviet Union during the Cold War that briefly hosted nuclear missiles at Moscow’s behest during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. It makes you wonder how politically savvy Cuban rulers are in matters concerning geopolitics. We can all agree that Cuba does not stand to benefit from this show of force by Russia. The response of the United States of America concerning the Russian warships just 200 miles off the coast of Florida is also steeped in politics. President Joe Biden is under much scrutiny, especially from the Republicans who are trying to portray him as being weak. Unquestionably, national security issues are particularly significant in an election year. Without a doubt Cuba and to a lesser extent Venezuela are mere pawns in this game of international intrigue. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #Russia #USA #ColdWar