Recent commercial satellite images have verified the completion of a large interception antenna at the Bejucal base, situated near Havana. The facility, likely already operational, has raised alarms according to a report released Thursday by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington-based think tank specializing in international policy.
This revelation emerges amidst heightened tensions between Washington and Havana, with U.S. officials publicly cautioning against the expansion of Chinese and Russian espionage activities on the island, a mere 100 miles from the Florida coast.
Bejucal's New Antenna: A Significant Development in Cuba
The CSIS has detailed the completion of a new CDAA (Circularly Disposed Antenna Array) at the northeastern edge of the Bejucal facility. This array, consisting of 32 antennas—19 external and 13 internal—is the largest and potentially most advanced of its kind ever observed by the organization in Cuba.
The transformation from a linear grid to this circular configuration has taken place over the past two years. By April 2025, CSIS had already recorded ongoing cabling work linking the antennas to the central control building, with images from June 2026 showing these efforts completed.
CDAAs are primarily used for high-frequency direction finding, allowing for the interception and geolocation of radio transmissions across a broad frequency range.
Located in northwestern Cuba, this antenna could enhance capabilities to monitor U.S. naval and air operations in the Caribbean and the southeastern coastline, a region where military activities have intensified under the Trump administration.
While the CSIS notes the lack of conclusive public evidence of direct Chinese involvement in Bejucal, it suggests the base is likely one of three locations in Cuba identified by U.S. officials as managed by China. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated before the Senate on June 2 that "Cuba continues to host a fairly substantial collection of intelligence sites on behalf of China and Russia."
El Salao: Stalled Developments Yet Potential Remains
The second site analyzed, located in El Salao near Santiago de Cuba, presents a starkly different picture. May 2026 images show little progress from the previous year: no antennas installed, and vegetation reclaiming parts of the leveled ground.
Construction at El Salao began in 2021, achieving a central control building and foundations for an inner ring of 16 antennas by 2024, but has largely halted since. An access road was repaved and redirected towards the center of the site, indicating it hasn't been entirely abandoned.
If completed, this site could complement Bejucal, extending coverage towards the southeastern Caribbean and enabling signal triangulation in Central America and the western Atlantic.
Diplomatic Tensions and U.S. Pressure Intensify
The CSIS report aligns with an escalating series of warnings about espionage in Cuba. According to the Wall Street Journal, China and Russia have nearly tripled their intelligence personnel on the island since 2023, positioning these facilities to surveil two military headquarters in Florida.
In May 2026, Trump signed an executive order imposing new sanctions on the Cuban regime, citing the presence of "foreign adversary facilities" targeting sensitive U.S. national security information. That same month, CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Havana to caution that "Cuba cannot continue to be a platform for adversaries to advance hostile agendas in the hemisphere."
China dismissed the allegations as "fabricating excuses and spreading rumors," while Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla accused Rubio of inciting aggression against Cuba.
The CSIS concludes that the status of these installations could become central in any future negotiations between Washington and Havana, with Rubio already warning that "Washington will not allow any foreign military, intelligence, or security apparatus to operate with impunity just 90 miles from U.S. shores."
Understanding the Espionage Concerns in Cuba
What is the significance of the new antenna at Bejucal?
The new antenna at Bejucal is significant because it is the largest and potentially the most capable of its kind observed in Cuba, enhancing the ability to monitor U.S. military operations in the region.
Why is there concern about espionage activities in Cuba?
There is concern because the expansion of espionage activities, particularly by China and Russia, could threaten U.S. national security by monitoring sensitive operations close to U.S. territory.
How has the U.S. government responded to these developments?
The U.S. government, under the Trump administration, has responded by imposing new sanctions on Cuba and issuing strong warnings against allowing foreign adversarial operations near American shores.