In June 2024, U.S. military radars spotted a Russian nuclear-powered submarine close to South Florida, only 30 miles from the coast. This raised concern and led to a careful response from the U.S. Navy, marking the most noticeable Russian naval presence near American waters in decades.
Pentagon officials described this as a routine operation, but it evoked memories of Cold War times and raised questions about today’s maritime security.
Strategic Proximity
The Russian naval group, led by the advanced Yasen-M class submarine Kazan, entered the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone.
Ryan Berg, the director of the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, viewed this move as Russia demonstrating its ability to project military power in the Western Hemisphere. This situation led to increased monitoring activities by the U.S. in the area.
Historical Context
This was the first time since the Cold War ended that a Russian nuclear submarine visited Cuban waters. Pentagon officials described the 2024 operation as regular activity rather than a crisis.
However, Stephen Flynn, who is the founding director of the Global Resilience Institute at Northeastern University, pointed out that “the visit of Russian warships to Cuba to include a nuclear-powered submarine certainly triggers memories of the Cuban Missile Crisis.”
Mounting Tensions
Russia carried out its operation while the U.S. and NATO were boosting their support for Ukraine. This included new permissions for Ukraine to hit targets inside Russia.
President Putin had warned that he would respond strongly if Western involvement increased. Richard Weitz, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, stated that this mission posed a threat to the United States.
The Main Event
On June 12, 2024, a Russian naval group, which included the nuclear-powered submarine Kazan, arrived in Havana, Cuba. They traveled submerged near Florida.
The U.S. Navy sent three destroyers—USS Truxtun, USS Donald Cook, and USS Delbert D. Black—to keep an eye on them. This was the closest a Russian nuclear submarine had come to U.S. shores since the Cold War.
Regional Response
The incident raised concerns for people living in the southeastern United States, especially in Florida.
The U.S. Navy responded with destroyers and aircraft, which provided reassurance and showed America’s maritime strength in the area.
Official Reactions
In Havana, the Russian fleet received a 21-gun salute, drawing a large crowd of onlookers. Cuban leaders welcomed the visit as a sign of friendship.
Meanwhile, American leaders stated that the operation posed no direct threat to the United States. Pentagon spokespeople noted that these activities are normal and confirmed they were closely monitoring the situation.
Allied Coordination
The U.S. response involved more than just surface ships. It included maritime patrol aircraft, like P-8A Poseidon planes, and Canadian forces.
The U.S. Coast Guard and the Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Québec tracked the flotilla, showing that allied operations were well-coordinated.
Technical Assessment
The Russian Navy conducted missile drills in the Atlantic as part of its ongoing operations. An analysis by the Royal United Services Institute reported that the Kazan submarine can launch up to 32 P-800 Oniks missiles, 40 Kalibr cruise missiles, and an unknown number of Zircon hypersonic missiles.
According to U.S. intelligence assessments, the visiting vessels did not have any nuclear weapons on board.
American Countermove
The U.S. Navy sent the Los Angeles-class fast-attack submarine USS Helena to Guantanamo Bay on June 13, one day after the Russian fleet arrived in Havana.
Officials described it as a standard port visit, but many viewed it as a sign of the U.S. maintaining its presence in the region.
Expert Analysis
Mai’a Cross, dean’s professor of political science at Northeastern University, characterized the deployment as “reminiscent of this kind of Cold War posturing” but noted there was “no real threat.”
John Hardie, deputy director of the Russia Program at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, told Business Insider that submarine tiles falling off “is a quite common problem for all navies, including the U.S. Navy.”
Leadership Messaging
U.S. leaders, including National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, characterized the incident within the context of standard activities. Sullivan noted that American authorities had “seen this kind of thing before and expect to see this kind of thing again.”
This messaging aimed to provide appropriate context while maintaining awareness of regional security dynamics.
Strategic Messaging
Benjamin Gedan, director of the Latin America Program at the Wilson Center, explained the deployment’s significance: “Most of all, the warships are a reminder to Washington that it is unpleasant when an adversary meddles in your near abroad.
It also reminds Russia’s friends in the region, including U.S. antagonists Cuba and Venezuela, that Moscow is on their side.”
Military Assessment
Retired Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery told Fox News that while the Russian fleet posed a “limited threat,” the deployment was “a traditional, normal-sized deployment despite being infrequent.”
He noted that U.S. assets in the area were “more than capable of outmaneuvering” the Russian vessels, though he found the submarine’s inclusion “somewhat more interesting.”
Future Implications
The Russian Navy finished its visit to Cuba and left on June 17. According to Evan Ellis, a research professor at the U.S. Army War College, the extended Russian presence in the Caribbean carried broader strategic significance.
Writing for the Gordon Institute at Florida International University, Ellis noted that the deployment “becomes more ominous in the context of Venezuelan national elections” scheduled for July 28, highlighting the deployment’s broader geopolitical implications.