Axios: Cuba acquires strike drones from Russia, Iran amid US concerns

Cuba has acquired more than 300 military drones and recently discussed potential plans to use them against the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, American military vessels and possibly Key West, according to classified intelligence cited by Axios.

The report said the intelligence assessments have heightened concerns within the administration of US President Donald Trump over advances in drone warfare and the presence of Iranian military advisers in Havana.

“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,” a senior US official told Axios.

According to the report, CIA Director John Ratcliffe travelled to Cuba on Thursday and warned officials against engaging in hostilities. He also reportedly urged Havana to abandon its political system to ease US sanctions.

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

US officials claim Cuba has been acquiring attack drones from Russia and Iran since 2023 and storing them at strategic sites across the island. Intelligence intercepts reportedly suggest Cuban officials are also studying Iranian methods of resisting US pressure.

The developments come amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following Iran’s use of drones in response to recent US military operations. According to US officials cited in the report, Iranian drone tactics have influenced military thinking in Havana.

US intelligence agencies also estimate that thousands of Cuban soldiers have fought alongside Russian forces in the war in Ukraine, with some reportedly providing Cuban military leaders with insights into modern drone warfare.

Despite the concerns, US officials stressed that Cuba is not considered an imminent military threat. However, intelligence assessments indicate that Cuban military planners have discussed possible drone warfare scenarios in the event of a further deterioration in relations with Washington.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov