In recent days, images have surfaced from Cuba showing tanks being transported by rail and armored vehicles navigating urban streets. These visuals coincide with the launch of the Moncada 2026 Strategic Exercise, the largest military maneuver of the year, happening amidst escalating tensions with Washington.
Independent journalist José Luis Tan Estrada captured footage on the night of November 3rd, documenting tanks being moved along the Camagüey railway line.
"Right now: deployment of tanks along the Camagüey railway headed towards the western part of the country," he reported in his regular segment #TanteandoCuba.
A second video, shared on Wednesday, features a tracked armored vehicle—painted military green and appearing to be outfitted with a Soviet-style multiple rocket launcher system—being transported on a red trailer through an urban street.
This footage was uploaded to X by user @DiazVismar38292, accompanied by the caption: "Cuba mobilizes its military assets in response to President Trump's threats and political tensions."
Both videos align with the start of the Moncada 2026 Strategic Exercise, which kicked off on Wednesday and is set to conclude this Thursday, culminating in the National Defense Day on Friday.
The exercise involves the mobilization of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR), the MININT, militias, reservists, civil structures, and economic sectors across the nation, adhering to the "War of All the People" doctrine.
On the first day of the exercise, the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) shared a quote from Fidel Castro about irregular warfare and the vulnerability of conventional armies, which analysts view as a politically charged message aimed at Washington.
The Historical Context of Cuba’s Military Exercises
Cuban strategic exercises are rooted in the "War of All the People" doctrine, developed in the 1980s as a countermeasure to the conventional superiority of the United States.
The inaugural Bastión exercise took place in 1980, with subsequent editions in 1983 and 1986. After an 18-year hiatus, the regime resumed these maneuvers in 2004, during the presidency of George W. Bush and following the Black Spring of 2003. They continued in 2009, 2013, and 2016.
Moncada 2026 is unfolding amid the most intense tension with the United States in decades. On January 12th, Cuba declared the "Year of Preparation for Defense," involving weekly training sessions in shooting, ambushes, evacuations, drone usage, and anti-tank mine placement.
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth warned from the USS Gridley in August that "all options, including military ones, are on the table" and that Cuba was "on notice."
The Guantanamo Naval Base also recently conducted the "No Fly Zone" anti-drone exercise, publicized on November 3rd via social media, signaling that both sides are simultaneously ramping up their military postures.
On October 23rd, during a rally in Florida, President Donald Trump suggested the possibility of moving U.S. warships closer to Cuban shores following operations in Iran, and subsequently sending Marco Rubio to "seal the deal" with Havana.
Key Questions on Cuba's Military Maneuvers and U.S. Relations
What is the Moncada 2026 Strategic Exercise?
The Moncada 2026 Strategic Exercise is Cuba’s largest military maneuver this year, involving various national forces and sectors in response to heightened tensions with the United States.
Why is Cuba conducting these military exercises now?
Cuba is conducting these exercises amid increasing political tensions with the U.S., as part of a declared "Year of Preparation for Defense" involving various military training activities.
How has the U.S. responded to Cuba's military activities?
The U.S. has responded by signaling that military options are being considered, as stated by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, and by conducting its own military drills at the Guantanamo Naval Base.