Cuba: US building fraudulent case for war
Cuba has accused the United States of constructing what it calls a “fraudulent case” to justify possible military action, escalating tensions between Havana and Washington amid rising geopolitical friction in the Caribbean.
The allegation was made by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, who pushed back strongly after a US media report claimed that Cuba had acquired attack-capable drones that could potentially be used against targets in Florida.
In a public statement shared on social media, Rodríguez rejected the claims outright, insisting that Cuba “neither threatens nor desires war,” and accused Washington of deliberately shaping a narrative to legitimise pressure against the island nation.
“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,” he said.
The diplomatic row was triggered by a report from US outlet Axios, which cited classified intelligence suggesting Cuba may have obtained as many as 300 drones and could be considering possible strikes against nearby US-linked sites, including Guantanamo Bay, naval vessels in the region, and even parts of Florida such as Key West.
The report also claimed, citing US officials, that Iranian military advisers could be present in Havana — an allegation that, if confirmed, would mark a significant expansion of Cuba’s external military partnerships. Iran’s drone capabilities have already played major roles in conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Cuban officials, however, have dismissed the claims as politically motivated and part of a broader escalation in US pressure on the island.
Havana says it is instead grappling with a worsening domestic crisis, driven largely by a severe fuel shortage that has intensified months of rolling blackouts, food shortages and disruptions to essential services. Cuban authorities have blamed long-standing US sanctions for restricting access to oil and critical imports.
The energy crisis has had widespread consequences across the country, affecting hospitals, water supply systems, public transport and waste management services, while also fuelling rare public expressions of dissatisfaction with the government.
US pressure on Cuba has increased in recent months, with reports of expanded surveillance flights and a growing military footprint in the wider region. The New York Times has reported that Washington is considering further strategic deployments as part of its regional posture.
US officials have also taken a more aggressive tone. CIA Director John Ratcliffe recently said Cuba “no longer be a safe haven for adversaries in the western hemisphere” during a visit to Havana, signalling a tougher intelligence and security approach.
The latest tensions come amid broader shifts in US policy toward Latin America, with the Trump administration adopting a more confrontational stance toward left-leaning governments in the region, including Cuba and Venezuela.
That approach has already been tested in Venezuela, where Washington previously justified military action following a federal indictment against President Nicolás Maduro. His capture and subsequent legal proceedings in the United States marked a dramatic escalation in regional tensions.
In Cuba’s case, President Donald Trump has also intensified rhetoric, previously suggesting that the island could be “next” in Washington’s regional focus, framing US strategy through what officials have described as a modern revival of the Monroe Doctrine.
Havana, meanwhile, insists it is not seeking confrontation but is preparing for any potential external threat, even as it continues diplomatic engagement with Washington in search of economic relief and policy dialogue.
As tensions rise, Cuba remains caught between worsening internal hardship and growing external pressure, a combination that analysts warn could further destabilise an already fragile regional balance.
Source: BBC
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