A former KGB spy, Jack Barsky, recently voiced his worry about Russian warships sighted near Florida. Barsky, who once worked for Russia, expressed concerns on NewsNation about the presence of these warships near Florida and Cuba, suggesting that Vladimir Putin may be using them to intimidate.
According to Barsky, the potential for accidental conflict in such scenarios is real, leading to his worry. He highlighted the need to view this in the context of Putin’s aggressive stance against the West, particularly in Ukraine.
These concerns were raised after Russian ships, including the frigate Gorshkov and nuclear submarines like Kazan, were spotted near Florida and en route to Cuba. This signals escalating tensions between Moscow and Washington amid the Ukraine war.
Moscow asserts that these fleets were just engaging in routine military exercises in cooperation with Havana. MarineTraffic, a ship-tracking site, shows the Russian fleet’s route in the Caribbean, with their rescue tug nearing Key Largo.
Despite the ongoing tensions, US officials claim these activities don’t pose a direct threat, considering them as routine naval exercises. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the US has continued to support Ukraine, which has drawn criticism from Putin.
Recently, Sergei Ryabkov, Russia’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, indicated that Moscow might adjust its nuclear doctrine in response to what it perceives as provocative actions from the West. Putin has hinted at potential changes in Russia’s nuclear strategy, including weapon testing.