MIAMI — A statement by the head of the Russian navy that his country is considering establishing a naval facility in Cuba underlined the warming relations between the former Cold War allies but sparked little initial concern in the United States.

Vice Admiral Viktor Chirkov said Russia is “studying the creation of points for assistance and technical maintenance in Cuba, the Republic of Seychelles and Vietnam,” the state-run news agency RIA Novosti reported Friday.

His remarks reflected the Russian government’s campaign to expand its naval presence around the globe, first announced in 2010.

The former Soviet Union had 16 navy bases abroad, but Russia now has two, one in Syria.