Republican Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart issued a warning on Sunday that Cuba’s regime poses a direct threat to U.S. national security. This comes in response to an exclusive report by Axios regarding Cuban military drones and their plans to target American sites just 90 miles off the Florida coast.
“The threat posed by drones has been evident in the Middle East. Now, they are just 90 miles from our shores, near critical infrastructure. It is clear that the Cuban regime is a national security threat,” Díaz-Balart stated on X.
The congressman was reacting to a report by White House correspondent Marc Caputo for Axios, which disclosed that Cuba has acquired over 300 military drones. Cuban authorities have reportedly begun discussing plans to deploy them against the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, U.S. warships, and potentially Key West.
According to Axios, drawing on classified intelligence and sources from the Trump administration, Cuba has been purchasing attack drones from Russia and Iran since 2023, which are being stored at strategic locations on the island.
The report further indicates that, within the last month, Cuban officials have requested additional drones and military assets from Russia. Intelligence intercepts suggest that Cuban services are studying Iran’s military resistance strategies against the United States.
Growing Concerns Over Cuban Military Actions
Díaz-Balart’s warning is not an isolated incident. Last Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed before Congress that the Cuban regime poses a national security threat. This was in response to a direct inquiry from Díaz-Balart during a Defense Appropriations Subcommittee hearing.
During the same hearing, Hegseth acknowledged that Russian warships, including the nuclear submarine Kazan, have used Cuban ports. He described the Russian intelligence complex in Lourdes as “very problematic” due to its proximity to U.S. shores.
Escalating U.S.-Cuba Tensions
The relationship between Washington and Havana has become increasingly tense throughout 2026. On January 29, Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency concerning the situation in Cuba, labeling the regime’s policies as an “unusual and extraordinary threat.”
On May 1, a subsequent order expanded sanctions and introduced secondary sanction risks for foreign financial institutions.
By May 7, the State Department designated GAESA, MOA Nickel S.A., and official Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera under this new sanction authority. Díaz-Balart praised these measures as a step towards holding the dictatorship accountable for “repression, corruption, and threats to U.S. national security.”
The Cuban regime, however, has denied any aggressive intentions. The Cuban vice foreign minister stated last Wednesday that “Cuba has never threatened the U.S.,” while Democratic congress members urged Trump to rule out military action against the island, calling it “illegal” and “catastrophic.”
Back in April, Díaz-Balart had already emphasized that “the removal of that dictatorship is essential” for U.S. national security, adding that “this would also infinitely help the Cuban people.”
Key Questions on Cuban Drone Threats
Why does Mario Díaz-Balart consider Cuban drones a threat to national security?
Díaz-Balart views the proximity of Cuban military drones to U.S. shores and their potential targeting of critical infrastructure as a direct national security threat.
What actions has the U.S. government taken against Cuba recently?
The U.S. has declared a national emergency over the Cuban situation, expanded sanctions, and designated several Cuban entities and officials under new sanction authorities.
How has the Cuban regime responded to accusations of aggression?
The Cuban government has denied any aggressive intentions, with statements from officials asserting that Cuba has never threatened the United States.