Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly expressed surprise at the arrival of the Canadian warship Margaret Brooke in Cuba, coinciding with the presence of a Russian flotilla, including a nuclear submarine, in Havana. The Canadian vessel reached Havana on Friday, the same day that Russian naval forces and a U.S. nuclear submarine stationed at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base arrived on the island's eastern side.
According to the Canadian government, the warship's three-day visit to Havana is intended to celebrate bilateral relations between Cuba and Canada. During an interview, a journalist questioned Minister Joly about the timing of the Canadian ship's visit, given the concurrent presence of Russian military vessels. Joly responded that she was not aware of the situation, stating, "This is something I have to look into much more closely. It is news to me because the Minister of Defense also works with CAF and DND on this issue; but of course, we will review it and follow up."
The HMCS Margaret Brooke, a vessel of the Royal Canadian Navy, initiated its maneuvers early on Friday to enter Havana’s port. The ship had not visited the island since 2016 when it was in Havana during the same week that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made an official visit to Cuba.
The ship's arrival comes at a time of heightened military activity in the region and significant tension due to the presence of the Russian nuclear submarine Kazan, the frigate Admiral Gorshkov, the rescue tug Nikolai Chiker (SB-131), and the fleet tanker Pashin in Havana.
This event also follows the announcement by the United States that its nuclear submarine USS Helena had docked at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base. The White House indicated that the U.S. and Canada would "closely monitor" the Russian naval fleet. Russia described its activities in the Caribbean as routine and claimed they pose no threat to the region.
Key Questions About Canadian Warship's Visit to Cuba
Given the unexpected visit of the Canadian warship Margaret Brooke to Cuba, there are several questions regarding the timing, purpose, and implications of this event. Here are some key inquiries and their answers:
Why did the Canadian warship visit Cuba?
The Canadian government stated that the visit was to celebrate bilateral relations between Cuba and Canada.
Was the Canadian Foreign Minister aware of the visit?
No, Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly stated that she was not aware of the situation and would need to investigate further.
What other military activities were occurring in the region?
The visit coincided with the presence of a Russian flotilla, including a nuclear submarine, and the docking of the U.S. nuclear submarine USS Helena at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.