The spokesperson for the Department of State, Tommy Pigott, appeared this Friday before CBS News to respond to the network's exclusive report on an internal memorandum from the U.S. Army suggesting military planning related to Cuba, and he declined to confirm or dismiss the possibility of a military action against the island.
When the journalist directly asked him if Washington was preparing for a military action in Cuba, Pigott did not answer either yes or no.
“I’m not necessarily talking about Cuba, but in general terms,” he said.
He added, "We will always be guided by the national interest of the United States. And, of course, the president has a wide range of options at his disposal to ensure that our national interests are upheld."
When asked if he ruled out or acknowledged the possibility of military intervention, Pigott was equally evasive: “No, look, as I said, we will always be guided by the national interest of the United States.”
Yes, he stated that there is “a clear national security interest” concerning the Cuban regime.
Pigott concluded the interview with a message that encapsulates the administration's position: "We are ready to work with those who want to see this island on a better path toward a free, happy, and prosperous Cuba. So far, the regime has not been willing to take the steps to make this happen."
According to the research by CBS News, the document requests to continue military planning for the Caribbean region and assesses the availability of six types of units —including a medical brigade, a military police brigade, and an engineer battalion— for Southern Command within a period of 90 to 120 days.
Although the memorandum does not mention Cuba by name, anonymous sources have confirmed to the network that the planning is directed towards the island.
Cuba as a "failed state" and "nexus of terrorism"
Pigott described Cuba as "an island that is essentially moving towards the status of a failed state that is very close to our shores" and accused the regime of acting as "a nexus of political terrorism in the world," including links to groups within the United States that "published a report with the locations of ICE facilities and U.S. military bases, calling for agitation and resistance."
"We have a clear national security interest regarding the Cuban regime. And look, we want to see Cuba again where Cubans can be free, happy, and prosperous. That is our goal," he stated.
The energy crisis and the 100 million in aid
When the journalist pointed out that U.S. sanctions exacerbate the shortage of fuel and electricity, Pigott categorically rejected that interpretation: "The reason for the lack of fuel is the regime's own incompetent policies."
The spokesperson recalled that when Venezuela sent free oil to Cuba "under the illegitimate regime of Maduro," the Cuban government "sold 60% of that supply and kept the money."
He also announced that the United States has offered 100 million dollars in humanitarian aid, conditional upon it reaching "directly to the Cuban people, not to the regime so that it can keep it and divert it."
A week of maximum pressure
Pigott's appearance takes place within a sustained escalation throughout September.
On Monday, Trump described Cuba as an "absolutely failed state" before the UN General Assembly and stated that the regime will "collapse," as the Cuban delegation was leaving the hall.
The next day, Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that there are figures in the regime "with whom we will never be able to work because their hands are stained with blood."
In parallel, two littoral combat ships arrived at the Guantanamo Naval Base at the beginning of the month and more than 1,300 Marines bolstered their preparation in Puerto Rico weeks prior to the leak.
From Havana, Deputy Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío stated this Friday that "there are no advances" in the contacts between Cuba and Washington.
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