Growing drone arsenal in Cuba threatens US, intelligence report claims

People cook with firewood during a blackout in Havana, prompted by US President Donald Trump's fuel blockade of Cuba. Photo / AFP

Cuba has obtained more than 300 military drones and recently began discussing plans to use them to attack the US base at Guantanamo Bay, US military vessels – and possibly even Florida.

According to media outlet Axios, which quoted unnamed officials, the drone threat comes as tensions simmer between Washington and Havana – and speculation grows that the United States is weighing military action against the communist-run island.

The Trump administration is concerned because of developments in drone warfare and the presence of Iranian military advisers in Havana.

Axios quoted an unnamed official as saying: “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.”

Cuba has been acquiring attack drones from Russia and Iran since 2023 and is seeking to buy more, US officials claim.

Havana slammed the report, with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez accusing the United States of baselessly plotting for its next war.

Rodriguez wrote on X: “With no legitimate excuse whatsoever, the US government is, day after day, building a fraudulent case to justify a ruthless economic war against the Cuban people and an eventual military aggression.

“Cuba does not threaten or desire war. It defends peace and is readying and preparing itself to confront external aggression in the exercise of the right to legitimate self-defence recognised by the UN Charter.”

The report comes days after CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Havana, where Cubans have been enduring constant power outages prompted by President Donald Trump’s fuel blockade.

Ratcliffe reportedly warned officials in Havana against engaging in hostilities.

Axios quoted an unnamed CIA official as saying: “Director Ratcliffe made clear that Cuba can no longer serve as a platform for adversaries to advance hostile agendas in our hemisphere.”

The communist island has been in a standoff with successive US administrations since the 1960s, and the southern state of Florida hosts a large, politically influential Cuban exile community.

Earlier this month Trump said the United States would be “taking over” the Caribbean island, only around 145km from Florida, “almost immediately”.

He has also said, following the US military operation to depose Venezuela’s long-time leader Nicolás Maduro, that Cuba would be next.

- AFP