Exclusive: U.S. eyes attack-drone threat from Cuba

"“When we think about those types of technologies being that close, and a range of bad actors from terror groups to drug cartels to Iranians to the Russians, it's concerning,” the official said. “It's a growing threat.”"

"“Director Ratcliffe made clear that Cuba can no longer serve as a platform for adversaries to advance hostile agendas in our hemisphere,” that official said. “The Western Hemisphere cannot be our adversaries' playground.”"

"“Cuba has been acquiring attack drones of 'varying capabilities' from Russia and Iran since 2023, and has stashed them in strategic locations across the island, U.S. officials say.” “Within the past month, Cuban officials have sought more drones and military equipment from Russia, the senior U.S. official said.”"

"“Russia and China have high-tech espionage facilities for collecting 'signals intelligence' (called SIGINT) in Cuba.” “We've long been concerned that a foreign adversary using that kind of location that close to our shores is highly problematic,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a Miami Republican, during a congressional hearing Tuesday."

Cuba is being warned against engaging in hostilities and urged to scrap its totalitarian government to end crippling U.S. sanctions. The CIA director traveled to Cuba and said Cuba can no longer serve as a platform for adversaries in the hemisphere. The Department of Justice plans to unseal an indictment of Raul Castro for allegedly ordering the 1996 downing of a plane flown by Brothers to the Rescue. U.S. officials say Cuba has acquired attack drones of varying capabilities from Russia and Iran since 2023 and stored them in strategic locations across the island. Within the past month, Cuban officials sought additional drones and military equipment from Russia, and intelligence intercepts indicate Cuban intelligence officials are trying to learn how Iran resists the U.S. Russia and China have signals intelligence facilities in Cuba, which is viewed as highly problematic due to proximity to U.S. shores.

Read at Axios