The U.S. Southern Command stirred up social media last Monday by sharing a video on its official X account, featuring the slogan "Lethal. Precise. Ready." The post was accompanied by a statement asserting Washington's commitment to keeping the Western Hemisphere "free from threats that undermine security, stability, and democracy."
This announcement, tagged with the Department of Defense and the Secretary of Defense, garnered over 120,000 views and ignited a wave of responses among Cubans and anti-communists who perceived the message as a direct hint at the Havana regime.
Among the standout comments, several Spanish-speaking users openly expressed their hope that U.S. military operations would extend to Cuba. One user remarked, "Tick tock, tick tock for the Cuban dictatorship, thank you."
Another comment was more explicit: "It would be a blessing if those operations targeted Cuba, please! The dictators must go!" adding in Spanish, "those in the PCC are scared to death."
A third user celebrated with, "Click click, click, remove the dictatorship from Cuba."
Mixed Reactions to Military Presence
Not all reactions were filled with enthusiasm. One user directly questioned if the post was "a precursor to troops on the ground," while another demanded the imprisonment of Raúl Castro.
However, not everyone favored the U.S. stance; at least one critic accused Washington of acting as though it owned the Western Hemisphere.
U.S. Military Escalation in the Caribbean
The Southern Command's tweet coincided with a steady increase in U.S. military presence in the Caribbean. Last Tuesday, they deployed the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz alongside the destroyer USS Gridley and the replenishment ship USNS Patuxent in Caribbean waters, just two days after the viral tweet.
On April 22, the Southern Command activated the Autonomous Warfare Command (SAWC), a new structure that integrates drones, artificial intelligence, and unmanned systems, explicitly including Cuba in its area of responsibility, according to a statement released by the U.S. Embassy in Havana.
Days later, the FLEX2026 exercise in Key West—just 90 miles from Cuba—simulated autonomous warfare with aerial drones and unmanned maritime vehicles.
Controversial Incidents and Criticism
In January, Southern Command reaffirmed Operation Southern Spear as the cornerstone of its regional activity, officially presented as a counter-narcotic and counter-terrorism campaign.
In February, U.S. forces carried out a lethal strike on a vessel in the Caribbean under this operation, resulting in three fatalities.
The same Southern Command thread also received criticism linked to an investigation by Drop Site News documenting the case of Ecuadorian fishermen who claimed to have been victims of U.S. forces: 16 crew members of the vessel "La Negra Francisca Duarte II" were found by the Salvadoran coast guard on March 23 with severe burns and injuries, alleging they were blindfolded and handcuffed after their ship sank.
"We were terrified they were going to kill us," they told the outlet. Southern Command responded that it had no information to provide and directed questions to Ecuador.
As the debate on social media blends hope, skepticism, and denunciations, the U.S. military pressure in the Caribbean shows no signs of easing.
The U.S. Embassy in Cuba shared the Southern Command's key message about the new Autonomous Warfare Command, a gesture that few in Havana would overlook.
Questions About U.S. Military Strategy in the Caribbean
What is the purpose of the U.S. Southern Command's increased presence in the Caribbean?
The U.S. Southern Command is increasing its military presence in the Caribbean to ensure the Western Hemisphere remains free from threats that undermine security, stability, and democracy.
How has the activation of the Autonomous Warfare Command impacted U.S.-Cuba relations?
The activation of the Autonomous Warfare Command, which includes Cuba in its area of responsibility, has likely increased tensions as it signifies a heightened U.S. military readiness near Cuban borders.
What were the reactions to the U.S. military operations among Cubans and anti-communists?
Many Cubans and anti-communists viewed the U.S. military operations as a hopeful sign against the Cuban regime, expressing a desire for the operations to extend to Cuba.