Since early February, at least 25 US Navy and Air Force surveillance flights, including P-8A, RC-135V and MQ-4C aircraft, have operated near Havana and Santiago de Cuba.
Some flights came within about 40 nautical miles of Cuba's coast as Washington hardened rhetoric and Havana responded with an oil blockade; the Pentagon declined to comment.
Cuban officials say they are open to negotiations but prepared for prolonged resistance if attacked, while the flight pattern echoes US pressure campaigns previously seen around Venezuela and Iran.
After preceding strikes on Venezuela and Iran, are U.S. spy flights over Cuba the final warning before military action?
While threatening invasion, why is the U.S. offering Cuba humanitarian aid and a free Starlink internet connection?
The 2026 U.S. Sanctions Surge on Cuba: Economic Collapse, Humanitarian Fallout, and Geopolitical Repercussions
Overview
In May 2026, the United States sharply escalated its pressure on Cuba, building on measures started by the second Trump administration in early 2025. These actions, including reversing previous efforts to ease restrictions and withdrawing key waivers, are designed to further weaken the Cuban economy with the clear goal of regime change. The expanded sanctions regime now targets both Cuban government entities and individuals, while also warning foreign companies and banks to avoid dealings with Cuba. This comprehensive approach aims to isolate Cuba economically, intensifying the country’s ongoing crises and shaping a new phase in U.S.-Cuba relations.