The U.S. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, issued a stern warning to the Cuban regime this Wednesday from Guantánamo Naval Base, stating that Havana would not be able to sustain a confrontation with Washington if it attempted to develop military capabilities that threaten U.S. territory or the military installation located in eastern Cuba.
During a visit to the base, where he participated in physical exercises alongside members of the Navy and Marine Corps before addressing the troops, Hegseth delivered one of the most direct messages from the Trump administration to the Cuban regime in recent months.
"It would be unwise for the Cuban government to try to acquire or gain access to types of weaponry capable of reaching this base or the continental territory of the United States," the official stated before military personnel gathered outdoors.
According to Hegseth, any attempt in that direction would have consequences that the regime would not be able to handle.
"They would be inviting a confrontation that they not only do not desire but also could not withstand," he warned, before emphasizing the military superiority of the United States: "No country in the world can match the capabilities of the United States of America."
Despite the firm tone of his statements, the Secretary of War combined the warning with a message of openness contingent on potential changes in Havana.
"We are not looking for enemies. We are not looking for opponents. We are a good friend. And we hope that soon we can be friends with the leadership of the Cuban government as well," he expressed. "For now, we will see what happens."
Hegseth insisted that it is up to the Cuban authorities to determine the political direction of the country, although he made it clear that Washington will remain prepared for any scenario.
"That government has decisions to make regarding what kind of reforms it wants to promote. It is not my job to make that decision for them. Our work at the Department of War is to be prepared for anything our Commander in Chief asks us to do in defense of the American people," he stated.
During his speech he also claimed the so-called "Donroe Doctrine", a concept promoted by the Trump administration as an update to the Monroe Doctrine and the Roosevelt Corollary, aimed at strengthening the strategic influence of the United States in the Western Hemisphere.
As an example of that policy, he mentioned Operation Absolute Resolve, carried out on January 3, 2026, when U.S. special forces captured Nicolás Maduro in Caracas. In that context, he also made a direct reference to Cuban involvement in Venezuela.
"Russian air defenses and Cuban guards couldn't handle our operators, our Rangers, those who do incredible things," he stated.
The statements come amid rising tensions between Washington and Havana. Intelligence reports released in May indicated that Cuba has allegedly acquired over 300 military drones of Russian and Iranian origin since 2023, and that, according to these assessments, possible scenarios of use against the Guantanamo Naval Base, U.S. military vessels, and targets in Florida have been discussed.
Washington's response included the deployment of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier in the Caribbean and the mobilization of more than 1,300 Marines as part of Operation Southern Spear, actions that heightened the U.S. military presence in the region.
Hegseth's warnings come just days after Miguel Díaz-Canel warned about the possibility of a U.S. military aggression and stated that an intervention could lead to a "bloodbath" with hundreds of thousands of Cuban casualties.
The Secretary of War also took the opportunity during his visit to recall his personal connection to Guantánamo, where he was stationed as an infantry lieutenant between 2004 and 2005.
"It is an honor to be here in Guantánamo Bay. This was then and is today: a very important and strategic American territory," he noted.
At the end of his speech, he reiterated that the U.S. Armed Forces are prepared to respond to any contingency related to Cuba.
"The Department of War will provide our Commander in Chief with every option needed for any contingency," he concluded.
Filed under: