US intelligence-gathering flights are surging off Cuba
Yahoo • • world
Key Points:
- US military intelligence flights off the coast of Cuba have surged since February 4, with at least 25 missions conducted by Navy and Air Force aircraft and drones, primarily near Havana and Santiago de Cuba, some within 40 miles of the coast.
- The flights mainly involve P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, RC-135V Rivet Joint signals intelligence planes, and MQ-4C Triton reconnaissance drones, marking a notable increase in activity and proximity compared to previous months.
- This uptick coincides with heightened rhetoric and sanctions against Cuba by former President Trump, who has labeled Cuba a national security threat and imposed an oil blockade and expanded sanctions.
- Similar patterns of increased public surveillance flights have preceded US military actions in Venezuela and Iran, suggesting a possible strategic signaling or preparatory phase ahead of potential US operations.
- The flights are publicly visible via open-source tracking platforms despite the capability to mask their presence, implying a deliberate US message to Cuban authorities amid ongoing tensions.
