Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth previously hinted at a possible forceful scenario regarding Cuba. In June, he stated that the republic’s attempt to acquire weapons threatening the US would become a cause for confrontation. According to intelligence data, Cuba has acquired more than 300 drones, which it intends to use for strikes against the Guantanamo base, US military ships, and the state of Florida.
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However, sources say that the likelihood of operations against Cuba in the near future is low due to the renewed war with Iran, which involves significant Pentagon resources. For now, the administration of US President Donald Trump is trying to change the power on the island by applying economic and diplomatic pressure.
Secretary of State Marc Rubio stated that Washington would like to see a technocratic government in Cuba, ready to implement reforms. However, on July 11, he noted that the Cuban regime and its “corrupt elite” continue to stick to their line, based on a “morally bankrupt Marxist ideology” and maintaining “complete control” in the country.
In May, Havana was visited by Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe. He stated that the US is ready to expand cooperation provided that fundamental reforms are implemented, and at the same time reminded the Cuban authorities about the American-organized kidnapping of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, demonstrating one of the participants in this operation.
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After D. Trump’s return to the White House, the US significantly increased pressure on Cuba and again included it in the list of countries supporting terrorism. In January 2026, the US president declared a state of emergency, citing the threat posed by Cuba to national security, and imposed an energy blockade on the island. In May, the republic’s authorities reported a critical state of the country’s energy system.
D. Trump has repeatedly spoken about the imminent collapse of the Cuban regime and promised to thoroughly address this issue once he “deals” with Iran. According to The Wall Street Journal, the US hopes to change the power in the republic by the end of 2026.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel stated that the country is ready to resist if a US invasion occurs. “We will fight, we will defend ourselves, and if we are destined to die in battle, then to die for the homeland means to live,” he said.
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