State Department Spokesperson Addresses Leaked Memo Hinting at Possible Military Action in Cuba

State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott appeared on CBS News this Friday to address an exclusive report about an internal U.S. Army memo suggesting military plans concerning Cuba. He refrained from confirming or denying any potential military action against the island nation.

When the reporter directly inquired whether Washington was gearing up for military intervention in Cuba, Pigott neither affirmed nor denied the possibility.

"I'm not specifically talking about Cuba, but speaking in broad terms," Pigott stated.

He further elaborated, "We will always be guided by the national interest of the United States. The President certainly has a wide array of options at his disposal to ensure our national interests are upheld."

Vague Responses on Military Intervention

When pressed on whether he ruled out or acknowledged the chance of military intervention, Pigott remained evasive: "No, look, as I said, we will always be guided by the national interest of the United States."

He did assert a "clear national security interest" regarding the Cuban regime.

Pigott concluded the interview with a statement summarizing the administration's stance: "We are ready to collaborate with those who wish to see this island take a better path towards a free, happy, and prosperous Cuba. So far, the regime has not been willing to take the necessary steps."

Military Planning and Anonymous Confirmations

According to CBS News' investigation, the document calls for continued military planning in the Caribbean region, evaluating the readiness of six types of formations — including a medical brigade, a military police brigade, and an engineer battalion — for the Southern Command within 90 to 120 days.

While the memo does not explicitly mention Cuba, anonymous sources confirmed to the network that the planning is directed at the island.

Cuba as a "Failed State" and "Terrorism Nexus"

Pigott described Cuba as "an island essentially advancing towards failed state status, located very near our shores," accusing the regime of acting as "a political terrorism nexus in the world," with links to groups within the United States that "published a report with the locations of ICE facilities and U.S. military bases calling for agitation and resistance."

He emphasized, "We have a clear national security interest concerning the Cuban regime. And look, we want to see a Cuba where Cubans can be free, happy, and prosperous once again. That is our goal."

The Energy Crisis and $100 Million in Aid

When the journalist suggested that U.S. sanctions exacerbate fuel and electricity shortages, Pigott firmly rejected that interpretation: "The reason for the fuel shortage is the Cuban regime's own incompetent policies."

The spokesperson recalled that when Venezuela sent free oil to Cuba "under the illegitimate Maduro regime," the Cuban government "sold 60% of that supply and pocketed the money." He also announced that the United States has offered $100 million in humanitarian aid, conditioned on it reaching "directly to the Cuban people, not the regime to hoard and divert."

A Week of Maximum Pressure

Pigott's appearance comes amid a sustained escalation throughout September.

Last Monday, Trump labeled Cuba as a "completely failed state" before the U.N. General Assembly, asserting that the regime "will fall," prompting the Cuban delegation to walk out.

The following day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that there are regime figures "with whom we can never work because they have blood on their hands."

Concurrently, two littoral combat ships arrived at the Guantanamo Naval Base earlier this month, and over 1,300 Marines enhanced their readiness in Puerto Rico weeks before the leak.

From Havana, Deputy Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío declared this very Friday that "there are no advances" in the contacts between Cuba and Washington.