Tensions between Russia and the United States are growing amid Vladimir Putin’s fury over Western support for Ukraine and President Joe Biden’s distinctly hesitant response to Russian escalations.

Signaling a growing interest in leveraging its military power to foster American fears of escalation in advance of the U.S. elections, Russian warships are about to make a port call in Cuba. A longtime Russian ally, Cuba will host warships including the Admiral Gorshkov frigate and the Yasen/M-class cruise missile submarine Kazan. The visit next Wednesday to Sunday may have been arranged during an April meeting between Putin’s hawkish adviser, Nikolai Patrushev, and Cuba’s security minister.