On Sunday, Cuba woke up to the sight of at least three U.S. military ships operating alarmingly close to its territorial waters.
This information was gathered through maritime maps available on the public platform VesselFinder, a tool commonly used for nearly real-time monitoring of naval traffic.
While the application does not specify the names of the military vessels or provide exact, continuous real-time positions, one of the ships was located around 11:00 a.m. less than eight nautical miles from the Cuban coast (West Cayo Romano). This positions it just outside the threshold leading directly into the island's territorial sea.
According to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), territorial waters extend up to 12 nautical miles from a country's coastal baseline. Within this area, the state exercises full sovereignty over the water, seabed, and subsoil.
In this zone, foreign ships, including military ones, are permitted to pass only under the "innocent passage" principle, meaning they must travel swiftly, continuously, and without engaging in any hostile, intelligence-gathering, or research activities.
The fact that one of the ships was detected less than eight nautical miles away is particularly noteworthy, placing it a mere four miles from Cuba's formal territorial sea boundary—a highly sensitive area from a military and geopolitical standpoint.
This activity takes place amid the broader U.S. naval deployment in the Caribbean, associated with Operation Southern Spear. Under this operation, Washington has ramped up interdiction of sanctioned vessels, maritime route control, and pressure on networks linked to the illegal oil trade from Venezuela to Cuba.
In recent weeks, the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard have intercepted tankers, deployed aircraft carriers, and bolstered their presence near strategic points in the western Caribbean.
Although there is no official confirmation that the detected ships have entered Cuban territorial waters, their recorded proximity underscores a signal of military vigilance and deterrence during a period of heightened regional tension. This tension is fueled by the collapse of Venezuelan energy supplies, Washington's pressure on Havana, and a shifting balance of power in the Caribbean.
As of now, the Cuban regime has not made any public statements regarding the presence of these military vessels.
U.S. Military Presence Near Cuba: Key Questions
What is the "innocent passage" principle?
The "innocent passage" principle allows foreign ships to travel through a country's territorial waters quickly and without engaging in hostile or intelligence activities.
What is Operation Southern Spear?
Operation Southern Spear is a U.S. initiative aimed at intensifying the interdiction of sanctioned vessels, controlling maritime routes, and applying pressure on networks involved in the illegal oil trade from Venezuela to Cuba.
Why is the proximity of U.S. military vessels to Cuba significant?
The proximity is significant because it suggests a heightened state of military vigilance and deterrence during a time of increased regional tension, particularly given the geopolitical dynamics involving Venezuela and Cuba.