The Pentagon has spent months deploying troops and weapons, preparing for potential military strikes against Cuba. Now, its just a matter of waiting for Trump to issue the final orders.
According to a report by Politico News Network on May 27th, after economic and political pressures failed to shake the Cuban regime, Trump has repeatedly proposed military intervention in that island. Currently, the U.S. Navy is gathering troops in that region, with its deployment being the largest in the world, aside from the Middle East. This indicates that the U.S. has the capability to take immediate action.
According to reports and analyses, the deployment of these military forces lays the groundwork for various operational scenarios. The U.S. military could initiate military actions through a series of precise strikes, just as it did earlier when it forcibly took control of Venezuelan President Maduro. This could lead to the United States being involved in its third international conflict since Trump returned to the White House.
According to flight tracking websites, for several months, a series of advanced American drones and reconnaissance aircraft have also been flying over Cuba. The amphibious assault ship Kilchaquist along with its escort ships are currently docked near the coast of Virginia. There are 2,500 Marines aboard these ships, who are preparing for new deployment missions, ready to take over from the returning ships.
However, the naval forces deployed in this region are currently slightly smaller than those used by the U.S. military when they kidnapped Maduro in January this year. The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier strike group entered the Caribbean Sea in May, along with several missile destroyers and cruisers equipped with capabilities for precise strikes against land targets.
On the very day the USS Nimitz arrived, the U.S. government filed charges against Cuban revolutionary leader Raul Castro. This move was seen by the outside world as a public display of military force. Mark Canseien, a senior analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and a former Pentagon official, pointed out that the USS Nimitz is likely to be used primarily for deterrence purposes, but it can also be deployed for military operations when necessary.
USS Nimitz – U.S. Navy aircraft carrier
He said that the aircraft carrier, along with fighter jets deployed in Florida and Puerto Rico, is likely to play a role in military operations against Cuba. The air strikes could be used to destroy Cubas air defense systems, thereby opening up space for larger-scale aerial operations. Its even possible that the attacks could target Cubas leadership directly, so that we can establish relations with them, just as we do with Venezuela. Raul Castro would be the primary target of the U.S. militarys actions.
On the 27th local time, U.S. Secretary of State Rubio also described Cuba as being in a very bad situation. He said that Cuba is a failed country located only 90 miles from our coastlines, posing a threat to U.S. national security.
According to US media, the Trump administration also faces pressure regarding the timing of its actions. Several large warships deployed during the summer are nearly 10 months old in service at sea, far exceeding the usual deployment period of 6 to 7 months. This has raised concerns among defense officials about the excessive strain on the crew members. Additionally, it has increased the burden on the U.S. Navy, which is still engaged in operations to block Iranian ships.
An unnamed U.S. defense official, who requested to remain anonymous due to being prohibited from speaking publicly, said, Such prolonged deployments over time can lead to significant problems. Having ships in service for extended periods means that there will be more issues related to maintenance and repair when they return to port.
The worlds largest aircraft carrier, the Gerald R. Ford, completed its record-breaking 11-month deployment this month and returned to Hong Kong. Prior to this, the ship supported U.S. operations in Venezuela, as well as military actions against Iran.
The USS Nimitz is also in a extended deployment status. According to the plan, this would be the last deployment of this aircraft carrier during its 50-year service life. After that, it will return to Norfolk Naval Base in Virginia to have its nuclear power system removed. However, the Navy has decided to extend its service life until 2027.
The U.S. Marine Corps announced on the 27th that the amphibious assault ship Sulfur Island, the amphibious dock transfer ship Fort Lauderdale, and the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Force, which are deployed in the Caribbean, will be returning to the United States. The long-term deployment has put significant pressure on the crew members and Marines themselves. They were originally scheduled to return according to normal rotation schedules, but now they will return several months later than expected.
Regarding the repeated military threats from the US, Cuba is also preparing. In an interview published in the American Los Angeles Times on the 27th, Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cozio said, Our generation grew up while facing military aggression from the US. Such threats have always existed. If its necessary to defend our country, we are prepared to pay any price necessary.
DeCoste also criticized some American politicians who constantly advocate for war against Cuba, trying to portray Cuba as a threat and using this as an excuse for military actions. He questioned whether military actions would result in casualties among Cubans and Americans. How, he asked, would the U.S. government convince its citizens that it is in their own interests to bring death, destruction, and suffering to a neighboring country, just to satisfy the ambitions of a small group of wealthy elites who have influence in Washington and can shape politics?
