Tuesday’s claim by Cuban authorities that the United States recently had a nuclear-powered submarine at its military installation at Guantanamo Bay was described as a “provocative escalation” of tensions after Washington claimed that the island was home to a Chinese spy station.
Cuba’s foreign ministry released a statement in which it stated that “the presence of a nuclear submarine there at this time makes it imperative to wonder what is the military reason behind this action in this peaceful region of the world.” That a submarine was stationed at the naval outpost was not confirmed by Washington.
The submarine may or may not have been armed, according to the ministry. It stated that from July 5 to July 8, it was at the base.
The American State Department refused to provide details regarding the movements of military equipment.
It claimed that Cuba was attempting to divert attention away from the two-year anniversary of the country’s largest public demonstrations since Fidel Castro’s revolution of 1959. Cuba has charged the United States with stirring up the turmoil on Monday.