"Cuba Secures 300 Military Drones...Considering Attacks on U.S. Bases Including Guantanamo"

"Received Drone Support from Russia and Iran"
"U.S. Authorities Do Not See an Imminent Attack"

AP Yonhap News

Axios reported on May 17 (local time) that Cuba has received large-scale drone support from Russia and Iran, and is considering the possibility of attacking nearby U.S. military bases such as Guantanamo in the event of a contingency.

According to a classified briefing obtained by Axios, "The Cuban military has secured more than 300 drones and has begun discussing plans to attack the U.S. military base at Guantanamo Bay, U.S. vessels, and Key West, Florida." The report added, "Since 2023, Cuba has been acquiring attack drones from countries including Russia and Iran and has deployed them at key domestic strategic locations."

Axios stated, "U.S. intelligence agencies do not believe that the threat from Cuba is imminent or that Cuba is actively planning to attack the United States." However, it continued, "There are concerns, even within the Trump Administration, about the possibility of a drone attack by Cuba, considering that Iranian military advisors have been dispatched to support Cuba's drone operations and the proximity between the United States and Cuba—approximately 90 miles (about 145 km)."

John Ratcliffe, CIA Director, who recently made an unannounced visit to Havana, has issued a strong warning to the Cuban authorities against hostile actions. Ratcliffe is also reported to have pressured Cuba to abandon its totalitarian regime as a condition for lifting U.S. sanctions. In addition, the U.S. Department of Justice is preparing to indict Raul Castro, former Communist Party chief and de facto leader of Cuba, in connection with the 1996 downing of a civilian relief organization aircraft.

As the likelihood of conflict between the two countries grows, there are increasing calls within Cuba for a hardline response. Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister, posted on the social media platform X, "Without any justification, the anti-Cuba campaign is intensifying by the hour, making groundless accusations in an attempt to justify military aggression against Cuba. Cuba is in a defensive position and is acting in accordance with the principle of self-defense," he said, criticizing the Trump Administration.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.