Donald Trump has reportedly ordered the Pentagon to draw up military options for Cuba, as his wider foreign policy strategy comes under strain following setbacks in the Middle East, according to US media reports.
Senior administration officials are said to have warned that Cuba is emerging as a growing security concern due to its ties with Russia, China and Iran, prompting renewed contingency planning inside the US defence establishment.
According to a report by Politico, senior military planners have convened a series of discussions in recent weeks to explore potential scenarios involving Cuba, ranging from naval blockades to targeted strikes on military infrastructure.
“The mood has definitely changed,” one source familiar with internal deliberations said, adding that earlier assumptions that increased sanctions pressure would force concessions from Havana were now being reassessed.
The reported shift comes after what officials privately describe as a more complicated-than-expected outcome from the administration’s hardline Iran strategy, which has contributed to rising oil prices and concerns over wider regional instability.
The White House has not confirmed any decision to use force, and officials stress that contingency planning is a routine function of the Pentagon and does not indicate imminent military action.
However, the reports suggest that Cuba is now being treated within parts of the administration as a more active security concern, particularly given alleged military cooperation between Havana and US adversaries — claims which Cuba strongly denies.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has previously warned that any US military action would trigger a “bloodbath” and destabilise the Caribbean region.
Cuban officials have also accused Washington of manufacturing a crisis to justify escalation, arguing that the United States is using unverified intelligence claims as a pretext for intervention.
The developments have triggered concern among lawmakers in Washington, with more than 30 Democratic members of Congress urging the White House to rule out military action entirely, warning that escalation could rapidly spiral into a broader regional conflict.
Analysts say the situation reflects a broader hardening of US foreign policy under Mr Trump, with a growing willingness to combine economic pressure with the threat of military force in dealing with adversarial governments.
For now, no formal decision has been announced. But the reports have already intensified debate over the direction of US strategy in the Caribbean and the risks of a new confrontation close to American shores.
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