Cuban President Raul Castro met on Monday with the head of a flotilla of Russian navy ships touring Cuba, the first such visit to the Soviet-era ally since the end of the Cold War.

Russian Vice Admiral Vladimir Koraliov commanded the flotilla, which included destroyer Admiral Chabanenko and two support vessels.

The warships arrived in Havana on Friday as part of a Latin American tour that included stops with US foes Venezuela and Nicaragua, and saw the ships pass through the Panama Canal for the first time since World War II.

It was the first visit by Russian warships to Cuba since 1991 and the dissolution of the Soviet Union, a staunch military, economic and political ally to Cuba for 30 years.

Monday's meeting took place "in an environment of friendship ... that characterises relations between the people, governments and armed forces" of Cuba and Russia, according to a statement read on state-controlled television.

Also at the meeting were Cuba's most senior military brass, as well as Moscow's envoy to Havana.

The Russian ships are scheduled to sail back home on Tuesday, officials said.

Russian warships — including the nuclear-powered cruiser Peter the Great — conducted joint exercises with Venezuelan navy vessels in the Caribbean during the tour.

The visit close to US waters is seen as a response to Washington's own moves in areas Russia deems within its sphere of influence, including the Black Sea.

US officials have said they see no military threat from Russia's manoeuvres.

The visit comes three weeks after Russian President Medvedev met Castro in Havana in a Latin American tour designed to revive what he called "privileged relations" from Soviet times.

AFP