According to a report from Politico on August 4, two sources familiar with the Trump administration’s plans for Cuba revealed that the U.S. has recently poured more intelligence manpower and resources into the island nation, aiming to push the Cuban government toward “reform” or regime change.
The report suggests such intelligence maneuvers could foreshadow various subsequent measures, ranging from launching military operations in Cuba to intensifying efforts to turn Cuban officials and ordinary citizens against the current regime.
One source noted that the U.S. has recently dispatched spies and allocated intelligence assets to Cuba. However, the individual declined to disclose specific details about the scale of this expanded intelligence-gathering effort or which U.S. agencies are involved, citing concerns about jeopardizing operational security.
A second insider indicated that this move signifies the CIA has intensified its footprint in Cuba in recent times. This source also refrained from revealing specific timelines or department involvement.
Politico explains that CIA operatives generally fall into two categories: foreign nationals who steal secrets on behalf of the U.S., known as “assets,” and salaried American intelligence professionals who recruit foreigners for espionage work, referred to as “case officers.” The CIA also maintains paramilitary units and leverages various technological and other means to carry out operations.
As the U.S. does globally, American intelligence agencies have conducted espionage activities in Cuba for decades. However, in recent years, CIA and affiliated agencies’ operations in Cuba have faced setbacks, partly due to staffing reductions linked to the so-called “Havana Syndrome.”
One insider described the increased U.S. intelligence presence in Cuba as a critical tactical step that could potentially clear the path for a U.S. military invasion. Nevertheless, they emphasized that any such operation’s blueprint remains far from defined.
U.S. military actions often follow intensified intelligence activities. Reports indicate that CIA tracking of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s whereabouts played a pivotal role in the U.S. operation to capture him in January this year.
Another source stated that the Trump administration would deploy all conventional tools, including intelligence community resources, to push for changes among Cuban leadership. They added that Trump still “prefers diplomatic means” to achieve that objective.
The Trump administration has recently been heavily focused on potential conflict with Iran, but it has simultaneously escalated pressure on Cuba, including implementing an energy blockade. At 5:05 PM on August 3, Cuba’s electrical grid experienced a complete blackout—the second nationwide power outage within 24 hours.
“The Iran issue doesn’t necessarily have to be resolved before we make a move (against Cuba),” the U.S. source added, noting that Cuba is “Rubio’s top priority.”