Carlos Giménez Warns of Cuban Regime's Threat to U.S. Following Military Drone Report

Republican Congressman Carlos Giménez, a Cuban American, reiterated on Sunday that the Cuban regime poses a direct threat to U.S. national security. His statement on social media platform X referenced an exclusive Axios report detailing Havana's acquisition of military drones.

"The Cuban regime is a dangerous threat to the national security of the United States of America," stated Giménez, who represents Florida's 28th district and serves on the Armed Services and Homeland Security committees.

The congressman’s remarks supported a report by Axios journalist Marc Caputo, which disclosed that since 2023, Cuba has allegedly procured over 300 military drones from Russia and Iran, stored in strategic locations on the island.

As per classified intelligence cited by Axios, Cuban officials have reportedly begun planning to deploy these drones against the U.S. Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay, as well as potentially targeting U.S. Navy vessels and Key West, Florida, just 90 miles north of Havana.

The report further indicates that Cuba has recently requested additional drones and military equipment from Russia. Reuters noted that it could not independently verify the specifics of the report.

Giménez's statement was released merely two days after CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Havana for a rare meeting with Cuban Interior Minister Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, which was confirmed by the Cuban government via an official communiqué.

During his visit, Ratcliffe reportedly conveyed a message from President Trump, conditioning any dialogue on "fundamental changes" in Cuba and explicitly warning Cuban officials against aggressive actions.

Last Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth testified before Congress, affirming that Cuba poses a threat to U.S. national security, aligning with the stance Giménez has advocated for months.

The Cuban government denied the allegations. Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío released a statement on Facebook refuting any threat: "No member of the Cuban government or official has issued any declaration threatening the U.S.," emphasizing that the only foreign military base on the island is the American base at Guantánamo.

President Miguel Díaz-Canel also dismissed claims that Cuba has threatened the United States.

For months, Giménez has been vocal on this issue. In April, he asserted that Cuba should be "democratic, free, and a friend of the United States, not an enemy," and in February, he urged U.S. airlines to cancel flights to the island, arguing that they fund a hostile regime.

The legal framework for this escalation was set on January 29, 2026, when the Trump administration issued Executive Order 14380, declaring a national emergency due to the Cuban threat and imposing new sanctions on the regime.