DeSantis indicates if he were president, Russia would not be ‘allowed’ to put warships near U.S.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis stated Friday the Biden administration has put on a display of “weakness” after Russian warships were recently discovered near Havana off the coast of Cuba.

“I’m the governor of Florida, I’m not the commander-in-chief, but if my responsibilities were different, that would not be something that we would allow to be happening,” DeSantis said. “I think it’s really concerning, I think that under this administration, they’ve put out a posture of weakness that has invited more aggressive actions from our adversaries.”

According to reporting, the naval fleet included three vessels accompanied by small boats. One of the ships, the flagship frigate, was dawned with Russian and Cuban flags and greeted by a 21-cannon salutes in Havana Harbor.

“Now Russia, this isn’t there first forway in the western hemisphere, obviously if you look through history. I think that the amount of activity amongst hostile nations in our own hemisphere is probably at a level we have not seen in many, many years,” DeSantis said.

In addition, the warships were joined by the nuclear powered submarine “Kazan.” Cuba’s foreign ministry indicated the ships will stay in Havana until June 17.

“If you look at how the governments of this hemisphere are constituted now, most of them are more aligned with Russia’s and China’s, unfortunately, than with the United States and the free world. I think it is problematic,” DeSantis said.

Speaking to Fox News digital, Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery (ret.) further indicated the Kazan may be armed with “hypersonic anti-ship missiles” that could threaten U.S. naval assets in the region.

“I think that history has shown that these bad actors, they respond to strength, and there deterred by strength. They’re not going to be deterred by weakness,” DeSantis said. “They’re not going to be deterred by confusion. They’re not going to be deterred by a president wandering around aimlessly at the G7. They’re going to be deterred because they know that’s not somebody that you want to mess with.”

Cuba’s foreign ministry noted the vessels were not carrying any nuclear weapons. In response, the United States indicated it will be sending scout aircraft and potentially some surface vessels to shadow the fleet.

“We’re failing as a country with the deterrent capability and I think it starts at the top with the president of the United States,” DeSantis said.