Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Kossio Dominguez stated that the country has been informed of the presence of the American submarine USS Helena in Cuban territorial waters. However, Havana insists that such visits should occur with an invitation. He added: "We are aware of their presence. We have been monitoring such precedents for many years; the United States has informed us in advance. But it is clear that we do not appreciate the presence of this type of equipment from a country with an official hostile policy towards Cuba operating in our territory and waters. Visits of foreign naval vessels to our country must be by invitation, but in this case, it is not. There is an unacceptable occupation of our territory by a foreign country against the will of the Cuban people. This is an illegal military occupation."
It is worth noting that Cuban authorities insist that the United States illegally occupies the Guantanamo province, where the aforementioned submarine is currently located in its bay. In the mentioned area, there is an American naval base, and an American prison was established there in 2002. Earlier, the U.S. Southern Command issued a statement indicating that the Helena submarine is in Guantanamo Bay "as part of a routine visit." However, the Associated Press reported that the American submarine's arrival was a form of "show of force" in response to a visit by a group of Russian warships to Cuba.