MIAMI (WSVN) - A new report suggests Cuba is in possession of hundreds of military drones and may be setting their sights on the United States amid growing tensions between the two countries, but Cuba’s president said the island nation does not pose a threat and does not “have aggressive plans or intentions against” the U.S.
Axios reported that the island nation has acquired more than 300 military drones and recently began discussing plans to use them to attack the U.S. base at Guantánamo Bay, U.S. military vessels and possibly Key West.
The report comes after CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Havana on Thursday and warned government officials there against hostilities.
According to Axios, Cuba has been acquiring these drones from Russia and Iran.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez posted a response on social media, writing in part:
“Without a legitimate excuse, the U.S. government builds, day by day, a fraudulent case to justify the economic war against the Cuban people and eventual military aggression.”
But late Monday morning, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said in a lenghty X post that the reported plans are nonexistent, stressing there is no threat from Cuba to the U.S., or “any country.” The full post, translated from Spanish, reads:
“The threats of military aggression against #Cuba of the greatest power on the planet are well known. The threat is already an international crime. If it materializes, it will cause a bloodbath of incalculable consequences, plus the destructive impact on regional peace and stability. Cuba does not represent a threat, nor does it have aggressive plans or intentions against any country. It does not have them against the United States. The U.S. government is well aware of this, especially its defense and national security agencies. Cuba, which is already suffering from a multidimensional aggression by the United States, is a member of the United States. The U.S. does have the absolute and legitimate right to defend itself from a military onslaught, which cannot be logically or honestly used as an excuse to impose a war against the noble Cuban people.”
As Cuban citizens face increasingly dire conditions, a humanitarian aid ship carrying supplies from the governments of Mexico and Uruguay arrived in Havana in an effort to ease the spiraling crisis on the island, Monday.
The developments come as Cubans on the island protest amid island-wide blackouts. Since the U.S. blockade on oil, the island nation have been suffering — unable to perform surgeries, keep the air conditioning on or heat up food to eat.
Meantime, Cubans across South Florida remain optimistic about lasting change occurring on the island nation.
“That the United States is doing something, you know,” said a resident. “They’re living in, you know, complete horrific times.”
“You don’t know what’s gonna happen,” said a resident.
Some Cuban Americans who spoke with 7News said they support the actions by the U.S.
“In the long run, it’s a good – I believe it’s gonna be a good thing,” said Jorge Rosas.
Even before Díaz-Canel’s post, some U.S. officials said they do not believe Cuba poses an imminent threat.
“[The] forces of Cuba are completely dilapidated,” said Republican U.S. Rep. Carlos Giménez.
However, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth told Congress he believes Cuba poses a national security threat to the United States while answering questions on Capitol Hill. Hegseth went on to say there’s been many concerns over the potential of foreign adversaries using the region’s proximity to the U.S. for surveillance and military action.
On Monday afternoon, the U.S. Department of State announced additional sanctions against 11 officials and three government entities for the Cuban regime.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio released a statement on the new sanctions:
“These sanctions advance the Trump administration’s comprehensive campaign to address the pressing national security threats posed by Cuba’s communist regime and hold accountable the regime and those who provide it material or financial support. [Monday’s] designation further restricts the Cuban regime’s ability to suppress the will of the Cuban people.”
Giménez later posted a picture on his social media account showing each of the individuals targeted by the sanctions.
“It’s pretty clear that the situation in Cuba is getting worse,” said Giménez.
The rapid developments come fresh off reports the U.S. Department of Justice is reportedly preparing an indictment against former Cuban President Raúl Castro, the 94-year-old brother of Fidel Castro, for his role in the shootdown of two Brothers to the Rescue planes in 1996. The indictment is possibly going to be unsealed Wednesday.
“Indicting him is one thing. Bringing him to justice is something else,” said Giménez.
The Feb. 24, 1996 downing of two unarmed planes over international waters claimed the lives of four flyers who were on a humanitarian mission.
Later Monday evening, Díaz-Canel denounced the new round of sanctions aimed at several Cuban officials and entities in another lengthy post on X. The post, translated from Spanish, reads in part:
Under the leadership of our Party, State, Government, and its military institutions, no one has any assets or property to protect under U.S. jurisdiction. The U.S. government knows this full well-so much so that there isn’t even any evidence to present. The anti-Cuban rhetoric of hate tries to make people believe such things exist in order to justify the escalation of its total economic war. That’s why we will continue to denounce, in the firmest and most energetic way possible, the genocidal siege that seeks to strangle our people.
Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay said he has not been contacted by the federal government about any possible attacks.
Copyright 2026 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.