Cuba's Right to Self-Defense: Fernández de Cossío Evades Denying Military Drone Acquisition

The Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, along with the regime's Foreign Ministry, addressed recent revelations on Sunday regarding the acquisition of over 300 military drones. Notably, they did not deny that the Cuban military has obtained this weaponry, instead invoking the principle of self-defense.

In a post on his X account, Fernández de Cossío stated, "The anti-Cuban effort to justify a military aggression against Cuba without any excuse intensifies by the hour, with increasingly unbelievable accusations," adding, "The U.S. is the aggressor; Cuba is the aggrieved, protected by the principle of self-defense."

Shortly after, the Cuban Foreign Ministry echoed the sentiment with its own tweet using the hashtag #LaPatriaSeDefiende: "If Cuba is attacked, it will exercise its right to self-defense."

The Silence Speaks Volumes

What's most telling about these statements is what they leave out: neither the Deputy Minister nor the Foreign Ministry (MINREX) deny the existence of the drones or refute the alleged plans of the regime. They frame the situation merely as a defensive reaction to U.S. aggression.

These declarations came just hours after Axios released an exclusive report based on classified intelligence shared by U.S. government officials. The report claimed that since 2023, Cuba has acquired over 300 military attack drones from Russia and Iran, which are allegedly stored in strategic locations across the island.

Potential Threats Emerge

The intelligence suggests that Cuban officials have discussed plans to use these drones against the Guantánamo naval base, U.S. military vessels, and potentially Key West, Florida. Within the past month, the regime reportedly requested more military equipment from Moscow, and intercepts indicate Cuban intelligence is "attempting to learn how Iran has resisted us," referencing Tehran’s drone warfare tactics.

A senior U.S. official emphasized the seriousness of the situation: "When we think about such technology being so close, and involving a range of dangerous actors from terrorist groups to drug cartels, Iranians, and Russians, it's troubling. It's an escalating threat."

The same official added, "They're part of Putin’s grinder. They’re learning Iranian tactics. It's something we need to prepare for."

Diplomatic Tensions and Military Alliances

This development comes in the wake of a visit to Havana by CIA Director John Ratcliffe last Thursday, marking the first by a director of the agency in over a decade. He directly warned regime officials against any hostile actions and urged the dismantling of the totalitarian system as a precondition for lifting sanctions.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth affirmed before Congress last Tuesday that the Cuban regime poses a threat to U.S. national security: "We've long been concerned about a foreign adversary using such a close location to our shores, which is very problematic."

This escalation is part of a broader military cooperation between Havana, Moscow, and Tehran. U.S. officials estimate up to 5,000 Cuban soldiers have fought for Russia in Ukraine, with Moscow paying the regime around $25,000 for each deployed soldier, and some have transferred drone warfare knowledge to military leaders in Havana.

Despite the gravity of the revelations, U.S. officials clarified that they do not perceive Cuba as an immediate threat nor believe the regime is actively planning an attack on U.S. interests.

This week, the Justice Department plans to file a federal criminal charge against Raúl Castro for ordering the shooting down of two Brothers to the Rescue aircraft on February 24, 1996, resulting in the deaths of four Cuban-Americans, adding another layer of pressure on the regime amid heightened bilateral tensions.