RUSSIAN WARSHIPS HOLD DRILLS IN ATLANTIC EN ROUTE TO CUBA : REPORT

Mario Nawfal

@MarioNawfal
🚨🇷🇺RUSSIAN WARSHIPS HOLD DRILLS IN ATLANTIC EN ROUTE TO CUBA

Russian warships, including one with hypersonic missiles, held simulated strike drills in the Atlantic while en route to Cuba.

The visit reflects friendly Russia-Cuba ties but heightens tensions with the West over Ukraine.

The drills showcase Moscow’s power projection efforts.

The timing follows Putin’s warning about giving Western adversaries similar weapons to those provided to Ukraine.

Source: AP News

Mario Nawfal

@MarioNawfal
🚨 RUSSIA’S COLD WAR CHESS MOVES OFF FLORIDA COAST

Russian nuclear submarines surfaced 66 miles off Florida’s coast last night. This is exceptionally rare; there haven’t been subs this close to U.S. territories for a while.

Decades ago, U.S. reconnaissance over Cuba revealed Soviet missile installations, leading to the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962.

On October 16, 1962, President John F. Kennedy was briefed on the imminent threat, sparking a 13-day standoff that nearly plunged the world into nuclear war.

The U.S. responded with a naval blockade, a tense game of brinkmanship.

Soviet ships approached the blockade line, stopping just short and averting immediate conflict.

Tensions peaked on October 27 when a U.S. reconnaissance plane was shot down over Cuba, killing the pilot.

This incident pushed the superpowers to the brink of war, with U.S. forces preparing for a possible invasion.

Kennedy’s advisors debated between military action and diplomatic solutions.

On October 28, a breakthrough occurred.

Soviet Premier Khrushchev agreed to dismantle the missile sites in Cuba in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba and secretly agreeing to remove American missiles from Türkiye.

This resolution defused the immediate threat and led to the establishment of a direct communication link between Washington and Moscow to prevent such crises in the future.

Fast forward to today: Russia’s bold move of positioning subs so close to the U.S. mirrors the initial detection of Soviet missiles in Cuba.

It’s a calculated act of geopolitical chess, designed to test U.S. and NATO resolve.

Just as in 1962, the stakes are high, the tension palpable, and the implications profound.

This strategic manoeuvre shows Russia’s willingness to push boundaries, keeping a precarious balance of power and leveraging unpredictability to unsettle its adversaries.

When is the breakthrough going to come for Russia / US relations?

While shadowing and monitoring by destroyers near any border are routine, this situation should not be dismissed, given its gravity and the chilling reminder of the Cold War’s darkest days.

Sources: Newsweek, USNI News, JFK Library, National Archives.