Minister defends Canadian navy ship's visit to Cuba with Russian vessels in port

[Judi Lynn]

Canadian ship sent to Cuba to demonstrate naval capability, commitment to open waters, Bill Blair says

Peter Zimonjic · CBC News · Posted: Jun 17, 2024 12:18 PM CDT | Last Updated: 9 hours ago



People watch the Russian Navy Admiral Gorshkov frigate arrive at the port of Havana, Cuba on Wednesday, June 12, 2024. (Ariel Ley/The Associated Press)


The decision to send a Canadian naval vessel into the port of Havana to sit alongside Russian warships this week was approved by Defence Minister Bill Blair following a request from the Canadian military, the minister said Monday.

"This was a direct result of a request that was made to me by the commander of joint operations command and the admiral in charge of the Royal Canadian Navy," Blair said.

"The port visit was carefully planned at Canada's request and it was announced by the military in advance."

Blair said Monday that the Harry DeWolf-class offshore patrol vessel HMCS Margaret Brooke, which arrived in Havana on Friday, heads back to Canadian waters Monday.

More:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/bill-blair-defence-minister-havana-1.7237261

[SarahD]

1. Seems OK.

Canada has normal relations with Cuba, right?

[Judi Lynn]

2. There was a poster here from Canada years ago who goes to Cuba regularly for vacations.

She was really disgusted because the US has been persecuting Cuba all these years with the economic war through the embargo, and the travel ban, etc. She's been there during election seasons, as well, and has spent time reading the posters with information and photos of the candidates running for office on display throughout towns.

She was really vocal about her feelings, was here under several different names before giving up after the last effort. One of her names was Jean Sawyer. Her father is a journalist who worked in Boston earlier in her life.

If she were only here, still, she'd have a lot to tell you about Canada/Cuba relations, for sure!

She absolutely loves Cuba, by the way!

[Judi Lynn]

3. Blair defends navy's Cuba visit, says critics may be 'confused' about its purpose

Blair defends navy's Cuba visit, says critics may be 'confused' about its purpose
National Defence Minister Bill Blair

Alessia Passafiume, The Canadian Press
Published Monday, June 17, 2024 11:38PM EDT

Defence Minister Bill Blair says he was acting on advice from the military when he approved a plan to send a Canadian ship to Cuba, but he can't disclose the classified advice he was given about why the navy wanted to take part in the mission.

The trip, which is getting attention this week because the Canadian navy ship was there at the same time as a Russian flotilla, was made after a request by the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Joint Operations Command.

The federal government was aware that Russian vessels would be in the area at the same time, Blair said.
He said the Russian ships in Havana pose "no immediate threat" to Canada or Canadians, and Canada's trip was meant to demonstrate its "presence, naval capability and commitment to safe and open waters in the Americas."

. . .

In an earlier press release, the navy said HMCS Margaret Brooke was being deployed to Havana to mark 80 years of diplomatic relations with Cuba. The ship is now on its way back to Canada.

More:
https://www.cp24.com/news/blair-defends-navy-s-cuba-visit-says-critics-may-be-confused-about-its-purpose-1.6930832

[Judi Lynn]

4. Canadian Ship Joins US & Russia War Vessels in Cuba

Posted by Nationwide Newsnet | 14 Jun, 2024




A Canadian navy patrol ship sailed into Havana, Cuba, early on Friday, just hours after a United States fast-attack submarine docked at its Guantanamo naval base in the country.

The Canadian patrol vessel began manoeuvres early on Friday to enter Havana harbour.

The Canadian Joint Operations Command said the vessel’s arrival in the Communist-ruled island nation is part of a port visit, in recognition of the long-standing bilateral relationship between Canada and Cuba.

Hours earlier, the US Southern Command said the fast-attack submarine Helena had arrived on a routine port visit to Guantanamo Bay.

Both vessels in Cuban waters come on the heels of Russian warships that arrived on the island earlier this week.

More:
https://nationwideradiojm.com/canadian-ship-joins-us-russia-war-vessels-in-cuba







GREAT PHOTOS BELOW FROM REUTERS:

33 Photos June 14, 202411:02 AM CDT
In pictures: Canadian navy patrol ship arrives in Cuba on heels of Russian warships

https://www.reuters.com/pictures/pictures-canadian-navy-patrol-ship-arrives-cuba-heels-russian-warships-2024-06-14/