Robin Peguero, Democratic candidate for Congress in Florida's 27th District, revealed this Saturday the three conditions under which he would support military action in Cuba.
These conditions are:
-That there is a direct aggression against the United States, its citizens, or its interests.
-That a greater humanitarian crisis occurs on the island.
-That the regime unleashes a bloody repression against the Cuban people.
Peguero, former homicide prosecutor in Miami and a Harvard law graduate, made these statements in an interview with Tania Costa, where he also distanced himself from sectors of his own party and criticized both Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar and President Donald Trump for their handling of the situation in Venezuela.
"I would only support military action in Cuba under three conditions: in response to an aggression against the United States or our citizens or our interests; in the event of a major humanitarian crisis in Cuba; or due to bloody repression in Cuba," the candidate stated.
Peguero prefers to speak of "intervention" rather than "military intervention," although he acknowledged that "whether it is surgical or non-surgical, it is still an intervention."
His conditional stance comes a day after the Trump administration ruled out immediate military action against Cuba, although Trump maintained a deliberate ambiguity when responding, saying "it depends on your definition of military action" when asked about it.
The candidate justified his conditional stance by pointing to the Venezuelan case as a direct warning: after the capture of Nicolás Maduro, Delcy Rodríguez -who he described as a "Chavista"- became number two in power, the repression continues, and there is no real democracy.
"I have no faith in this president. Look at what happened in Venezuela. We still have number two there, Delcy Rodríguez, a chavista. We don't have democracy in Venezuela," Peguero stated.
He also accused Congresswoman Salazar of having said that it was necessary to "work with Delcy, give her some time," a stance he categorically rejects for Cuba, and criticized Trump for having become "better friends" with Rodríguez.
"We need maximum pressure. No negotiations, no becoming good friends like President Trump did with Delcy. They are best friends now. I don’t understand it," he stated.
In light of that scenario, Peguero was emphatic: “What we need is to push for an economic, political, and social transition in Cuba. And we also need to remove from there the leaders, the government, the irresponsible regime of Cuba.”
The candidate also distanced himself from the Democratic representatives who have visited the island, praising the regime or criticizing the embargo.
"I'm not in agreement with that. And look, we are different," he said, adding, "I am not going to serve my party, only the people."
This position is significant in a context where 79% of Cubans and Cuban Americans in South Florida support a military intervention by the United States in Cuba, according to a survey by the Miami Herald published in April.
Regarding the role of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Peguero took a stance that breaks with the progressive wing of his party.
"We need ICE. We need people who work to deport violent criminals. What we don't need are agents on the streets killing people," he said.
Peguero seeks to unseat Salazar in District 27, which is 74% Hispanic and includes Little Havana, Coral Gables, and parts of Kendall, considered one of the most competitive seats of 2026 and a barometer of Latino support for the Trump administration.
The Democratic primary in that district is scheduled for August 18, 2026, and the debate over a potential intervention in Cuba will continue to be one of the central themes of the campaign in a community that, according to analysts, carefully considers each position on the future of the island.
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