Former Pentagon Official: An invasion of Cuba would be a "quagmire" for the U.S.

Speculations about a possible military action by the United States against Cuba have gained momentum following recent military movements in the Caribbean, but experts consulted by the British newspaper The Telegraph believe that an invasion of the Island would be an unlikely and extremely costly option for Washington.

Among them is Mark Cancian, a former Pentagon official and current senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), who warned that a large-scale military operation could turn into a true "quagmire" for the United States.

According to The Telegraph, Cancian believes that a conventional invasion of Cuba would be a much more complex undertaking than some observers suggest. While acknowledging U.S. military superiority, he argues that occupying a country of over 11 million inhabitants would involve enormous logistical, political, and security challenges.

Cuba would be a quagmire, stated the specialist to the British newspaper, warning about the difficulties that any foreign force would face trying to control the country after a military intervention.

The statements come amidst speculation generated by the presence of the USS Nimitz carrier strike group in the region and by the increase in U.S. surveillance flights near Cuban airspace. However, Cancian interprets these movements more as tools of strategic pressure than as preparations for an invasion.

The expert also noted that modern military operations do not end with the defeat of a country's armed forces. The subsequent management of territory, maintenance of public order, and institutional reconstruction often pose challenges even greater than the initial phase of the conflict.

In this regard, other analysts cited by The Telegraph believe that the administration of Donald Trump seems to be betting on mechanisms of economic, diplomatic, and political pressure rather than on direct military action.

The article also highlights that Cuba is experiencing one of the worst economic crises in recent decades, characterized by prolonged blackouts, fuel shortages, deteriorating public services, and increasing emigration. For some observers, these conditions heighten the regime's vulnerability, but do not necessarily make foreign military intervention a viable option.

At the moment, the White House has not publicly raised the possibility of an invasion. Cancian's statements rather reflect the consensus of numerous national security experts: a military operation in Cuba could have unpredictable consequences and a cost far greater than other pressure tools available to Washington.