U.S. Southern Command Drafts Cuba Strike Plans as Trump Weighs Options 90 Miles From Florida
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · May 18
U.S. Southern Command Drafts Cuba Strike Plans as Trump Weighs Options 90 Miles From Florida
9 articles · Updated · POLITICO · May 18
U.S. Southern Command has begun a planning series for possible military action against Cuba, with options ranging from a single airstrike to a ground invasion, though officials say no operation is imminent.
The shift follows weeks of growing White House frustration that sanctions, an effective oil blockade and pressure after U.S. moves in Venezuela failed to force concessions from Havana.
Administration officials are also building a public case: Raul Castro, 94, may face U.S. indictment, surveillance flights are reportedly increasing, and leaks about Cuba acquiring hundreds of drones have fueled strike speculation.
Miguel Díaz-Canel warned on Monday that any U.S. attack would trigger a "bloodbath of incalculable consequences," as Washington casts Cuba's ties to Russia and China as a security threat.
The planning underscores a harder U.S. line after hopes for negotiated economic reforms faded, with analysts warning Trump could see nearby Cuba as an easier win despite risks of miscalculation.
After the Venezuela raid, is a U.S. warrant for Raúl Castro the final trigger for military action in Cuba?
With Russian and Chinese backing, could a U.S. strike on Cuba risk igniting a wider great-power conflict?