Several informed officials have revealed that military planners at the US War Department have been studying a range of military options against Cuba in recent weeks. These include a massive airborne assault led by the Army, executed by the 101st Airborne Division, involving thousands of soldiers.
According to reports, the US military held a briefing on operational concepts late last month, discussing initial military action plans for specific missions. However, this does not indicate that President Trump or the Pentagon has decided to proceed with any concrete action.
US Secretary of State Rubio has repeatedly emphasized a preference for diplomatic channels to push Cuba toward “a transition to a new government led by technocrats willing to implement economic reforms.” Officials interviewed also noted that, given the recent resumption of US military operations against Iran, shifting military focus to Cuba is currently unlikely.
Rubio’s parents are Cuban immigrants who left Cuba before the revolution. Growing up, he heard plenty of criticism about the Cuban revolutionary government from his family. Politically, he’s long held an anti-Cuba stance, making public threats against the Cuban government, pressuring other nations at the UN to oppose Cuban proposals, and pushing for tighter US sanctions.
In fact, Cuba was the first sovereign nation in the Western Hemisphere to completely break free from US political and economic control.
This standoff has lasted over a century, rooted in ideological opposition and geopolitical games. In 1901, the US turned Cuba into a protectorate through the Platt Amendment. After the 1959 revolution, Cuba adopted socialism and nationalized US assets. Diplomatic ties were severed in 1961, followed by several US-backed attempts to overthrow the Cuban government, including the Bay of Pigs invasion.
The US has imposed an economic and financial blockade on Cuba for over 60 years, causing an estimated $178.7 billion in losses. These sanctions restrict Cuba’s use of the US dollar and international banking systems, directly triggering a humanitarian crisis on the island.
Last December, the White House released its National Security Strategy on its website, with a theme emphasizing “Western Hemisphere first.”
Some media outlets have called this strategy a revival of the Monroe Doctrine. Originally proposed by President Monroe in 1823, the doctrine opposed European colonization in the Americas and established the hemisphere as a US sphere of influence. However, by the 20th century, it evolved into a tool for US control over Latin America, including military invasions of Panama and sanctions against Cuba.
This year, the Trump administration signed an executive order declaring a national emergency, threatening tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba and fully blocking Cuba’s energy supplies.
On May 20, a grand jury in the Southern District of Florida agreed to prosecute Cuban revolutionary leader Raul Castro, linking him to the 1996 downing of a plane carrying Cuban exiles. At the time, Castro was head of Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces.
This lawsuit is seen as part of US pressure tactics against Cuba. That same day, Cuban President Diaz-Canel stated that the so-called “charges” were purely politically motivated and lacked legal basis. He said the only goal was to add content to a fabricated case file and find excuses for the US’s absurd desire to launch a military aggression against Cuba.
On July 13, the US Treasury website showed that the US had sanctioned 10 entities, including Cuba’s Ministry of Tourism. This is the latest move in the Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign against Cuba, following the oil blockade imposed in January. Tourism is one of Cuba’s most important sources of foreign currency.
Diaz-Canel and Foreign Minister Rodriguez both strongly condemned the US on social media. Diaz-Canel pointed out that this new list of “sanctions” is an escalation of pressure aimed at strangling Cuba’s economy and causing greater harm to the people.
On July 14, Cuba’s Electric Union reported that the national power grid had gone completely offline again. Since 2026, Cuba has experienced multiple nationwide blackouts. This was the third in July alone.
Diaz-Canel expressed on social media that the grid’s collapse twice in a few days puts immense pressure on repair efforts. Under the US’s “genocidal” oil blockade, the repair process is extremely complicated.
Foreign Minister Rodriguez also stated on social media that the grid’s collapse is a direct result of the US’s intensified energy blockade and siege policy against Cuba. He called it part of a collective punishment imposed by the US government on the Cuban people, with the intent to destroy the Cuban revolution.
On July 15, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian held a regular press conference. A foreign journalist asked about China’s comment on the US escalating its fuel blockade and expanding sanctions against Cuba. Lin Jian stated that the US has imposed a comprehensive blockade and illegal sanctions on Cuba for over 60 years, causing immense suffering to the Cuban people. Recently, the US has further escalated these measures, severely impacting Cuba’s basic livelihood and drawing high international attention.
Lin Jian pointed out that the US should listen to the international community’s call for justice, immediately cease its blockade, coercion, and pressure against Cuba, and stop infringing on the Cuban people’s right to survival. China firmly supports Cuba in defending its national sovereignty and opposing foreign interference and is willing to work with the international community to uphold international fairness and justice.