The Canadian Minister of Defense, Bill Blair, announced that he approved the decision to send a Canadian warship to the port of Havana, coinciding with the presence of the Russian navy this week. "This was a direct result of a request from the commander of joint operations and the admiral in charge of the Royal Canadian Navy," Blair stated in an interview with CBC News.
The HMCS Harry DeWolf arrived at the Port of Havana on Friday, June 14, and returned to Canadian waters on Monday, June 17. According to the minister, "the port visit was meticulously planned at Canada's request and was announced in advance by the military."
Unlike the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, Blair was aware of the presence of Russian warships in Havana when he authorized the navy to send the HMCS Harry DeWolf to Cuban waters. Minister Joly stated that she was unaware of the reasons behind the warship's visit in an interview with a Canadian media outlet.
When asked, "Why would Canada have a ship in a Cuban port at the same time as Russian military ships are there?" she responded that she was not informed about the situation. "This is something I need to look into more closely. This is new information to me because the Defense Minister also collaborates with CAF and DND on this matter; but of course, we will look into it and get back," she affirmed.
However, the Defense Minister asserted that "the Canadian ship visited Havana to demonstrate Canada's presence, naval capability, and commitment to open and secure waters in the Americas." He added, "This was a military mission. They asked for my authorization to proceed, and I granted it."
The convergence of ships from Canada, Russia, and the United States in Cuba, just 160 kilometers from Florida, has evoked memories of the Cold War and highlights current tensions between Russia and Western countries due to the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Canada's Naval Deployment to Cuba
In light of the recent deployment of a Canadian warship to Cuba, several questions arise regarding the implications and motivations behind this move.
Why did Canada send a warship to Havana?
Canada sent the warship to Havana to demonstrate its naval presence, capability, and commitment to maintaining open and secure waters in the Americas.
Was the visit of the Canadian warship coordinated with the presence of Russian ships?
No, the visit was planned independently and was a response to a request from the commander of joint operations and the admiral in charge of the Royal Canadian Navy.
How did the Minister of Foreign Affairs react to the deployment?
Minister Mélanie Joly was unaware of the reasons behind the warship's visit and stated that she needed to look into the matter more closely.