US Defense Secretary Warns Cuba Against Military Arms Purchases
Al Jazeera Staff
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned Cuba against boosting its military capabilities, saying it could invite a confrontation with Washington. His remarks, made during a visit to Guantanamo Bay, followed reports of Cuban drone purchases and heightened US pressure on the island nation.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that Cuba could invite a confrontation with the United States if it seeks to boost its military capabilities through new arms purchases. The statement, made on June 11 local time, comes amid continued threats by President Donald Trump of military intervention in the Caribbean island nation.
“It would be unwise for the Cuban government to try to purchase or gain access to weapons that could reach this base or US territory,” Hegseth said during a visit to the US military base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. “They would be inviting a type of confrontation that not only they do not want but also cannot withstand. No country on Earth can match the capabilities of the United States.”
Hegseth did not provide specific details on the type of military weapons Cuba might be seeking. However, his remarks followed a May report by news outlet Axios that Cuba had purchased more than 300 military drones capable of being used against US forces.
Cuba lies about 140 kilometers (90 miles) from the southern tip of Florida, and the island's communist-led government has long had fraught relations with the US government. Since the Axios report was published, Cuba has repeatedly insisted it poses no threat to the US, emphasizing its right to self-defense and accusing Washington of “fabricating reasons” and “creating and spreading falsehoods” to justify “potential aggression.”
Tensions between the two countries have escalated since Trump returned to the White House in 2025. After a January 3 operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Trump threatened military action elsewhere in Latin America, including Cuba. He also imposed a de facto energy blockade on Cuba, threatening tariffs on any country supplying oil to the island. The fuel shortages have led to widespread blackouts and scarcity of other essential goods.
Earlier this week, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk criticized US sanctions, saying they disproportionately affect the most vulnerable members of Cuban society: “Children are dying because doctors lack essential supplies and medicines. This is unacceptable.”
Concerns persist that the US may seek to escalate tensions with Cuba. Since last year, the US has increased its military presence in the Caribbean Sea. In May, it deployed the additional aircraft carrier USS Nimitz to the region. The US has consistently described Cuba as an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to national security, and reports indicate that Trump is seeking regime change on the island.
Hegseth's visit to Guantanamo Bay followed a meeting last month with General Francis Donovan, head of the US Southern Command. During the June 11 visit, Hegseth said the US is seeking a positive relationship with Cuba and hinted at impending change: “Soon, we could become friends with the leadership of the Cuban government.” However, he did not rule out military action. “For now, let's wait and see what happens. But the Department of War will provide the commander-in-chief with every option necessary in that scenario,” Hegseth said. “The future of Cuba lies in the hands… of the US president and the Cuban leadership.”
