Pete Hegseth warns Cuba on drone buildup at Guantanamo
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- Pete Hegseth warned Cuba that acquiring weapons capable of reaching Guantánamo Bay or the U.S. mainland would invite a confrontation, during his visit to the base.
- U.S. has ramped up pressure on Cuba with sanctions and a devastating oil blockade, and President Donald Trump has signaled that Cuba could be the next target after Venezuela.
- Axios reported that Cuba obtained more than 300 military drones and was discussing plans to use them to attack Guantánamo Bay, U.S. vessels, and possibly Florida.
- Cuba has been acquiring attack drones from Russia and Iran since 2023 and is seeking to buy more, according to U.S. officials.
- Bruno Rodríguez accused the United States of baselessly plotting for its next war after the drone report.
- Pete Hegseth was scheduled to travel to Tampa, Florida, the headquarters of U.S. Central Command, after his Guantánamo visit.
- Guantánamo Bay is a U.S. military base 430 miles southeast of Miami, known for a detention facility for prisoners captured after the September 11 attacks.
Why it matters: The warning amplifies U.S. pressure on Cuba, signaling that any Cuban effort to acquire long‑range drones could trigger a direct confrontation, thereby raising the stakes for Havana’s defense procurement, U.S. regional security, and the political calculus of both Washington and Havana.
