A Russian warship has sailed into Havana for the first time since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union in what appears to be a warming of relations between Moscow and its Cold War ally Cuba.

The dark gray, anti-submarine destroyer Admiral Chabanenko fired its guns in salute as it sailed in from the Straits of Florida just 144km from the US coast.

It was greeted with cannon fire from an old Spanish fort at the mouth of the bay.

Fishermen and tourists looked on from the waterfront as the Chabanenko, its sailors lined up on the deck, sailed through the narrow bay entrance.

After tugboats eased the ship into a dock opposite historic Old Havana, a Cuban military band welcomed it with martial music.

The destroyer, which is set to stay in Havana for five days, took part in recent joint exercises with the Venezuelan navy and stopped in at former ally Nicaragua before sailing to Cuba.

It is accompanied by two supply ships.

Economic relations

The Chabanenko's visit comes amid renewed diplomatic and economic relations between Cuba and Russia, which is increasing its presence in the Western Hemisphere amid rising tensions with Washington.

Some analysts believe Russia is signaling its unhappiness with US plans to build a missile defence system in eastern Europe and support for former Soviet republic Georgia in its recent conflict with Russia.

In public statements, US officials have placed little importance on the Russian naval visit to Latin America.

Russia was communist-run Cuba's biggest benefactor before their alliance abruptly ended with the fall of the Soviet Union.

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union had a significant military presence in Cuba and Soviet warships were a common sight in Havana Bay.