Kathrine Frich
A tiny island neighbour is causing massive headaches for security teams.
The map remains exactly the same, but the weapons sitting off the coast have changed entirely.
Gathering new weapons
Cuba has a new arsenal. Behind closed doors, the nation has stockpiled over 300 drones from Russia and Iran. Security teams believe the regime hides these weapons in scattered locations across the country.
Havana wants more firepower. Officials are actively trying to buy additional military hardware from Moscow. They also want to know how Iran manages to resist intense American pressure.
The situation escalated recently with alarming conversations about potential strikes. According to Axios cited by Kyiv Independent, unnamed officials say these discussions include targeting Guantanamo Bay, Key West, and military ships.
A senior American official expressed deep worry to Axios. “When we think about those types of technologies being that close, and a range of bad actors from terror groups to drug cartels to Iranians to the Russians, it’s concerning,” the official said.
Spies and soldiers
The island already acts as a listening post. Chinese and Russian intelligence networks use the close location to gather signals from their American rivals.
Thousands of Cuban troops have travelled to Europe to fight for Russia. That massive movement of soldiers caused Ukraine to completely shut down its embassy in Havana last October.
The senior official told Axios these soldiers are gaining dangerous combat experience. “They’re part of the (Russian President Vladimir) Putin meat grinder. They’re learning about Iranian tactics. It’s something we have to plan for,” the official noted.
American authorities stepped in to issue a very direct warning.
A direct warning
CIA Director John Ratcliffe travelled to the island on May 14. During the visit, he told local leaders they must abandon their strict regime if they want an end to economic sanctions.
A CIA official explained the director’s message to Axios. “Director Ratcliffe made clear that Cuba can no longer serve as a platform for adversaries to advance hostile agendas in our hemisphere,” the source said.
Washington remains fairly calm about the risk of a conventional war. “No one’s worried about fighter jets from Cuba. It’s not even clear they have one that can fly,” the senior official added.
But the calculus might be shifting. Axios reports the growing presence of foreign military advisors could eventually trigger an American military response. Meanwhile, prosecutors plan to unseal a criminal indictment against former leader Raul Castro over a 1996 plane crash.
Sources: Axios, Kyiv Independent
