The United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, warned the Cuban regime this Wednesday that it would be "unwise" to attempt to acquire weapons capable of reaching the Guantanamo Naval Base or the continental United States, during a speech before troops deployed at the facility after participating in joint physical exercises with them.
"They would be inviting a confrontation that they not only do not desire but also could not bear," Hegseth stated before marines, Army soldiers, and sailors gathered outdoors at the base, which has been located in Cuban territory since 1903.
The secretary emphasized that Washington has been in Guantánamo for over 100 years and that it "will continue to be there because it's a key strategic territory," making it clear that the Department of War will be "prepared and positioned for any possible contingency" that the president may assign.
"That government has decisions to make about what types of reforms it wants to promote. It is not my job to make that decision for them," declared Hegseth, who also proclaimed to the troops the so-called “Donroe Doctrine” as Trump's corollary to the Monroe Doctrine —a contraction of “Donald” and “Monroe”—, formally presented in Miami in March 2026.
Hegseth invoked Operation Absolute Resolve from January 3, 2026 —in which U.S. special forces captured Nicolás Maduro in Caracas— as a precedent for the consequences of challenging Washington, and noted that "the Russian air defenses and Cuban guards were no match for our operators, our Rangers."
The visit occurs in a context of maximum bilateral tension. A report from Axios on May 17 revealed that Cuba has reportedly acquired more than 300 military drones from Russia and Iran since 2023, with plans discussed to deploy them against the base itself, military vessels in the Caribbean, and even Key West, Florida.
In response to that threat, Washington deployed more than 1,300 marines in the Caribbean under Operation Southern Spear on May 29, sent the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz to the region, and conducted surveillance flights using specialized aircraft.
The Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío did not directly deny the purchase of drones and merely stated that "Cuba has the right to defend itself," while Díaz-Canel warned last Sunday that Washington is considering three scenarios for the island and that any military action could lead to a "bloodbath."
Despite the firm tone, Hegseth left the door open for dialogue: "We are not looking for enemies. We are not looking for adversaries. We are a great friend. And we hope that soon we can be friends with the leadership of the government of Cuba as well."
The Secretary, who arrived this morning at the naval base and recalled serving there 20 years ago as an infantry lieutenant, concluded his message to the troops with a clear warning: "The Department of War will provide our Commander in Chief with every option he needs in the face of any contingency."
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