United States intelligence information indicates that Cuba acquired more than 300 drones and began discussing plans to attack the American base in Guantánamo Bay, US military ships and the city of Key West, Florida, according to the American portal Axios.
An unidentified American official pointed out to the website that this information could become a pretext for US military action in Havana. Washington is also concerned about the presence of Iranian military personnel on the island.
CIA director John Ratcliffe alerted local authorities on a trip to Cuba on Thursday the 14th. The American official said that Havana needed to dismantle its government so that sanctions could be eased.
New sanctions against Cuba could be announced this week, including a Justice Department indictment against former President Raúl Castro, one of Cuba’s top leaders, for allegedly ordering the downing of two planes belonging to a Miami-based humanitarian aid group in 1996.
Drones
According to information from the Axiosthe Cuban regime has been reinforcing itself with attack drones from Russia and Iran since 2023 and has stored them in strategic locations on the island.
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American authorities informed the American website that Havana reinforced its arsenal of drones and military equipment in the last month. Furthermore, the country’s leaders would be trying to understand Iran’s mistakes and successes in the war against the United States.
The Trump administration became more concerned about the Cuban purchase after the Tehran regime was effective in its drone strikes against Gulf countries in recent months and contributed to keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed.
American officials are also aware that Cuban soldiers fought in Russia in its war in Ukraine and have informed local authorities about the effectiveness of the drones.
Threat
Washington does not see Cuba as an imminent threat, but assesses that the island’s authorities have discussed war plans with drones if relations between the two countries deteriorate.
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American authorities also assess that Cuba does not have the capacity to close the Strait of Florida in the same way that Iran paralyzed the strategic passage of Hormuz, but Washington is not comfortable with the proximity between Cuban territory and the State of Florida.
Dialogue
Officials in Havana fear a military operation similar to the one that took place in January, when the US captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro in Caracas.
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United States President Donald Trump has said several times that he will “take Cuba”, but highlighted that the two countries are trying to reach an agreement.
“Cuba is asking for help and we are going to talk!”, said Trump, on Tuesday, 12.
Over the past four months, Washington has maintained an almost total blockade of oil supplies to the island, significantly worsening the economic conditions of its population.
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