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Cuba denies US drone allegations, warns of 'fraudulent' intervention case
Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez has accused the United States of constructing a misleading narrative to justify potential military aggression, following reports that Havana had acquired attack drones capable of targeting Florida.
Axios report sparks tensions
On Sunday, US news outlet Axios cited classified intelligence claiming Cuba now possesses 300 drones and is exploring strikes on US targets, including Guantanamo Bay, naval vessels, and Key West. The report also alleged the presence of Iranian military advisers in Havana, a detail Rodríguez dismissed as part of a broader campaign of disinformation.
"Without any legitimate excuse whatsoever, the US government builds, day after day, a fraudulent case to justify the ruthless economic war against the Cuban people and the eventual military aggression."
Bruno Rodríguez, Cuban Foreign Minister
Cuba's response and preparedness
Rodríguez emphasized that Cuba "neither threatens nor desires war" but is actively preparing for "external aggression" and self-defense. He criticized US media for amplifying what he described as "slander and insinuations" from Washington, warning that such reports could serve as a pretext for intervention.
Fuel crisis and domestic unrest
The allegations come as Cuba grapples with a severe fuel shortage, exacerbated by US sanctions and an effective oil blockade. A single Russian oil shipment, permitted earlier this month, has since been depleted, plunging the island into rolling blackouts that have disrupted hospitals, public transport, and waste collection. Food and medicine shortages have further fueled rare public protests against the government.
Until recently, Cuba relied on Venezuela for approximately 35,000 barrels of oil per day, but this support ended after the US-backed capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January.
US ramps up pressure
The Trump administration has intensified its campaign against Cuba, with increased surveillance flights and a planned military buildup in the region, according to a New York Times report. During a recent visit to Havana, CIA Director John Ratcliffe demanded that Cuba cease being a "safe haven for adversaries in the Western Hemisphere."
Reports also suggest the US is preparing to indict former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, who succeeded his brother Fidel in 2008. The Trump administration previously used a federal indictment against Maduro as justification for a raid on Caracas, resulting in his capture and extradition to New York on drug trafficking charges.
Monroe Doctrine revival
President Trump has framed his Latin America policy around the "Donroe Doctrine," a rebranding of the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine, which asserts US dominance in the Western Hemisphere. His administration has prioritized countering left-wing governments in the region, with Cuba and Venezuela as primary targets.
Trump has publicly stated that Cuba could be "next" after Venezuela, declaring it would be an "honor" to intervene. The escalating rhetoric and military posturing have raised concerns about a potential confrontation.
