Cuba has reportedly acquired more than 300 military drones from Russia and Iran, according to classified intelligence information cited by Axios, a development that has triggered growing concern within the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The report claims Havana has been discussing potential scenarios involving the use of military drones against the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, as well as American military vessels and even possible targets near Key West, Florida. U.S. officials quoted by Axios said Cuba has been purchasing attack drones from Moscow and Tehran since 2023 and is now looking to expand those capabilities further.
American officials are said to be particularly alarmed by the rapid evolution of drone warfare technologies and the reported presence of Iranian military advisers in the Cuban capital. One senior U.S. official described the situation as an increasingly serious regional threat. “When we think about those types of technologies being that close, and a range of bad actors from terror groups to drug cartels to Iranians to the Russians, it’s concerning,” the official said. “It’s a growing threat.”
The allegations immediately drew a sharp reaction from Havana. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez accused Washington of deliberately constructing what he called a false narrative in order to justify further pressure on the island. In a message published on X, Rodriguez argued that the United States was manufacturing accusations to legitimize harsher economic measures and potentially even military action.
