Lead
Washington and Havana are at odds over a new report that Cuba has acquired hundreds of military drones and discussed possible attacks on US targets. The Axios news outlet, citing classified intelligence, reported Sunday that Cuba has obtained more than 300 military drones and recently began discussing plans to use them against the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, US military vessels, and possibly even Florida.
Coverage Comparison
The report, published by Axios and subsequently covered by Deutsche Welle and The Hindu, has intensified existing tensions between the two countries. Both outlets carry the core claims from Axios's reporting, though they frame the story differently. Deutsche Welle emphasizes the strategic concern from the Trump administration, while The Hindu also includes Cuba's response, presenting a more balanced picture of the dispute.
Key Claims
According to Axios, as cited by both Deutsche Welle and The Hindu, Cuba has obtained more than 300 military drones. The same reporting alleges that Cuban officials discussed plans to use these drones to attack the US base at Guantanamo Bay, US military vessels, and potentially Key West, Florida.
The sources also report that the Trump administration is concerned about developments in drone warfare and the presence of Iranian military advisers in Havana. A senior US official, speaking anonymously to Axios, said, "When we think about those types of technologies being that close, and a range of bad actors from terror groups to drug cartels to Iranians to the Russians, it's concerning. It's a growing threat."
US officials told Axios that Cuba has been acquiring attack drones from Russia and Iran since 2023 and is seeking to buy more.
Additionally, the report comes days after CIA Director John Radcliffe visited Havana. According to Axios, Radcliffe warned Cuban officials against engaging in hostilities. CBS News, cited by Deutsche Welle, quoted an unnamed CIA official as saying Radcliffe had warned Cuba against being a "safe haven for adversaries in the Western Hemisphere."
Perspectives
Cuban officials have strongly denied the allegations. Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio wrote on X that "the anti-Cuban campaign aimed at justifying, without any excuse, a military attack against Cuba is intensifying by the hour, with increasingly implausible accusations." He added, "The United States is the aggressor. Cuba is the country under attack, acting in self-defence."
Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez also accused the US of building "a fraudulent case to justify a ruthless economic war against the Cuban people and an eventual military aggression." He wrote, "Cuba neither threatens nor desires war," without specifically addressing the drone allegations.
Separately, several US media outlets reported that the US is taking steps to indict Raul Castro, Cuba's former president. This claim has been carried by a single outlet and has not yet been independently verified.
The Axios report comes as the Trump administration has increased pressure on Cuba, including cutting off oil shipments. The Cuban government has faced constant power outages, which it attributes to the US fuel blockade.
Conclusion
The drone report has heightened tensions between the US and Cuba, but the claims remain unverified beyond Axios's sourcing. Cuban officials deny the allegations and accuse the US of preparing a pretext for military action. The situation underscores the fragile state of US-Cuba relations.