Russian Warships 90 Miles From US, Biden Wandering Away (Worthy News Focus)
By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
MOSCOW/HAVANA (Worthy News) – Moscow said Thursday that the United States should “not be nervous” about Russian warships in Cuba, just 90 miles (144 kilometers) from the U.S., while President Joe Biden was seen wandering away in Italy.
The Russian vessels comprising a frigate, a nuclear-powered submarine, an oil tanker, and a rescue tug churned into the Communist island’s Havana harbor Wednesday.
That prompted a U.S. Navy submarine to arrive at the American base at Cuba’s Guantanamo Bay in what seems the biggest East-West standoff since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis brought the world close to nuclear war.
A 21-cannon salute greeted the Russian vessels, and Russian sailors aboard the frigate stood in military formation as they approached the island. Some Cuban residents stopped to take pictures of the arriving ships.
U.S. officials expect the Russian ships to remain in the region through the summer and possibly stop in Venezuela.
Russian sailors aboard the frigate stood in military formation as they approached the island. Some Cuban residents stopped to take pictures of the arriving ships.
U.S. officials expect the Russian ships to remain in the region through the summer and possibly stop in Venezuela.
LONGTIME ALLY
Russia is a longtime ally of Venezuela and Cuba, and its warships and aircraft have periodically made forays into the Caribbean.
But this mission comes less than two weeks after President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-provided weapons to strike inside Russia to protect Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.
That prompted Russian President Vladimir Putin to suggest his military could respond with “asymmetrical steps” elsewhere in the world.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said there was no evidence of Russia transferring any missiles to Cuba.
However, he stressed that the U.S. would remain vigilant ahead of planned Russian military exercises in the Caribbean.
The crisis unfolded as thousands of miles away, the 81-year-old U.S. President Joe Biden was seen wandering away from a group of world leaders while attending a skydiving demonstration at the G7 Summit in Italy.
In footage seen by Worthy News, the president appeared to divert from the group and approach a skydiver taking a knee. Biden offered the individual a thumbs-up.
APPROACHING BIDEN
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni then approached Biden, whose back was to the camera, and escorted him back to the group. The president then donned his signature aviator sunglasses as he faced into the sun.
The incident raised concerns about Biden’s ability to deal with multiple military crises amid reports that China, too, is testing America’s resolve while supporting Russia.
Before Thursday’s incident, the president seemed to have difficulty sitting during a D-Day ceremony in France last week, with a video clip circulating on social media showing a rigid Biden hunching backward into a chair while on stage at the event.
During a concert celebrating Juneteenth on the White House lawn Monday, Biden appeared dazed, holding a rigid posture with arms hovering at his sides as others around him danced and sang along with the music.
The president appeared to hold the pose for at least 30 seconds before snapping out of the stupor when reporters noticed Philonise Floyd, the brother of George Floyd, wrapping an arm around his shoulder. Biden then raised a hand to his face as if coughing before returning to the stiff pose.
But Moscow suggested President Biden could take a nap.
When asked about purported nervousness in Washington over fears that Russia could transfer military personnel to Cuba or even create an army base there, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said such exercises were not unusual. “This is a normal practice for all states, including such a large maritime power as Russia.”
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