The United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) showcased this Thursday the military might of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz in waters near Cuba, in a show of strength that comes amid a recent unprecedented escalation of tensions between Washington and Havana.
The operation included aerial maneuvers and deck weapons operations with F/A-18 fighters from Carrier Air Wing CVW-17, according to images and videos released by SOUTHCOM on its social media.
In announcing the activity, the U.S. military emphasized the strategic role of aircraft carrier strike groups.
"No other weapon system has the responsiveness, resilience, multidimensional power, battlefield awareness, and command and control capabilities of an aircraft carrier strike group and its embarked air wing," the institution stated.
The USS Nimitz also shared images of the operation and emphasized its presence in the area of responsibility of Southern Command under the ship's historic slogan.
The military demonstration takes place in a particularly sensitive context for relations between Cuba and the United States.
The aircraft carrier arrived in the Caribbean on May 20 as part of Operation Southern Seas 2026, accompanied by other U.S. naval units, amid growing regional security concerns and reports of a supposed expansion of Cuban military capabilities.
Since then, Washington has strengthened its military presence in the region by deploying naval forces and marine contingents, while senior U.S. officials have intensified the tone of their statements regarding Cuba.
Just a day before the maneuvers, the U.S. Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, visited the Naval Base at Guantánamo and warned that it would be “reckless” for Cuba to attempt to develop or acquire military means capable of threatening the installation or U.S. territory.
During his tour of the base, Hegseth assured that U.S. forces are prepared to respond to any scenario.
Tension increased further when the official later stated that a possible operation to capture or eliminate Miguel Díaz-Canel remained an option being considered by Washington.
Cuban authorities reacted rejecting the U.S. statements and accusing Washington of maintaining a hostile stance towards the island.
Days earlier, Díaz-Canel had warned that the United States would be assessing different scenarios to increase pressure on Cuba, including a possible direct military intervention, a hypothesis that the leader described as potentially catastrophic.
In parallel, the Cuban government has intensified its messages regarding military preparedness and national defense in recent months.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces have carried out exercises, mobilizations, and training activities under the doctrine known as "War of All the People", while the authorities declared 2026 as the "Year of Preparation for Defense."
The presence of the USS Nimitz adds a strong symbolic component to that scenario.
With over half a century of active service, the ship is one of the most iconic aircraft carriers of the U.S. Navy and is currently undertaking what is considered its final major operational deployment before its planned retirement in 2027.
For this reason, the demonstration held in front of the Caribbean transcends the military domain and takes on a clear political dimension: showcasing responsiveness, projecting power in the region, and sending a deterrent message during one of the most tense moments between Washington and Havana in recent decades.
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