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The Governor of Puerto Rico, Jenniffer González-Colón, confirmed this Thursday that more than 8,100 U.S. soldiers will conduct military exercises on the island between May and August 2026.
The leader made the announcement in an exclusive interview with reporter Marilis Llanos from Telemundo 51, aired on the same day that Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, visited the Guantanamo Naval Base and delivered his most direct message to date about Cuba.
"From May to August of this year, there will be military exercises in Puerto Rico. More than 8,100 troops will be conducting military drills here," stated González-Colón, who described the maneuvers as logistical and without the use of weaponry. She denied that Vieques or Culebra are being considered as venues.
The governor directly linked the deployment to pressure on the Cuban regime and drew a parallel with the Venezuelan precedent.
"We benefited from that military activity in the south of Puerto Rico because we observed how drug entry to the island decreased, and subsequently, the capture of Nicolás Maduro."
Regarding Hegseth's visit to Guantánamo, González-Colón was definitive: "When Secretary of War Hegseth visits the troops, action always follows. He is someone who backs up his words with action."
This Wednesday, Hegseth stated from Guantánamo that "what happens to the future of Cuba is in the hands of the President of the United States and the leadership of Cuba."
He also warned that the Department of War "will be prepared and positioned for any possible eventuality in Cuba."
The immediate context is also significant. The Secretary of Public Safety of Puerto Rico, General Garfield, stated to Telemundo 51 on Wednesday that July could be the month for a military intervention in Cuba if there is no immediate diplomatic response from the regime.
The governor supported that interpretation and described the efforts of Secretary of State Marco Rubio as an ultimatum that Havana should not ignore.
"The United States does not make offers on two occasions. Anyone studying international public policy must view these words from Secretary Rubio as an ultimatum. And July could be an excellent month to witness this."
The deployment of 8,100 personnel adds to the presence of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which assumed its mission in the Caribbean on May 29 with more than 1,300 personnel under Operation Southern Spear, operating from Puerto Rico under the command of Colonel Ryan Lynch and subordinate to Southern Command.
The escalation also responds to a concrete threat: an intelligence report revealed in May that Cuba has acquired over 300 military drones from Russia and Iran since 2023, with plans discussed to use them against Guantanamo, military ships, and possibly Key West.
The president Trump promised on June 4 from the Oval Office that he would address Cuba after resolving the crisis with Iran, describing the regime as a "failed nation" and noting that the Cuban people "are asking us for it."
The brigadier general who anticipated a possible date for intervention strengthens that timeline with July as a concrete horizon if Havana does not respond to the diplomatic offer on the table.
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