The United States has dramatically increased the number of reconnaissance flights near Cuba amid escalating tensions between Washington and Havana.
According to the Ukrainian outlet Militarnyi, citing information from CNN, American surveillance aircraft have been carrying out increasingly frequent missions in the Caribbean region in recent weeks.
According to air-tracking data analyzed by the outlet, the flights were conducted by RC-135 Rivet Joint electronic intelligence aircraft, P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, and RQ-4 Global Hawk strategic drones. The missions are reportedly aimed at monitoring military movements and communications on the island.
The intensification of operations comes after a series of threats by Trump against the Cuban government. In recent months, Washington has increased economic pressure on Havana and threatened to impose new sanctions on countries that continue to supply oil to the island.
The increase in US military activity in the Caribbean also comes in the context of Operation Southern Spear, a US-led mission officially focused on combating drug trafficking and strengthening regional security. Since late 2025, the United States has expanded its naval and aerial presence in the region, including patrols near Venezuela and Cuba.
Meanwhile, Cuban authorities have accused Washington of promoting military intimidation and attempting to destabilize the island’s government. The current crisis is considered the most serious between the two countries in years, leading analysts to compare the situation to the period of heightened tension in the Caribbean during the Cold War.
Photo: Fighterbomber. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
