The possibility of U.S. military intervention in Cuba appears to be near, as sources familiar with the Trump administration’s plans for the communist-led nation reveal that the U.S. has increased its intelligence (intel) assets on the island.
Trump Administration Will Use All Conventional Tools On Cuba
According to one source, the Intelligence Community (IC) has recently sent spies and assets to Cuba, a move that could serve as a pivotal “tactical step” towards a “U.S. military incursion.”
The second source affirmed that the Trump administration “is going to pursue all the conventional tools, including intelligence community resources” to influence Cuba’s leaders for reform, adding that President Donald Trump “prefer[s] diplomacy” to achieve the U.S.’s goal.
What Are Assets & Spies?
According to the CIA’s “Spy Speak Glossary,” “Assets/Agents/Spies” are foreign nationals who gather intelligence on their own country on behalf of the U.S. An “Officer” is a U.S. Intel professional who recruits “Assets/Agents.”
U.S.'s Efforts To Force Regime Reform
Reports come amid the Trump administration’s effort to force the Caribbean nation to reform its governmental structure or face repercussions.
In mid-May 2026, Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John Ratcliffe met with Cuba’s Interior Minister, former Cuban Leader Raúl Castro, and Colonel Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro to reaffirm the push for “fundamental changes” to receive foreign aid.
A couple of months later, the U.S. Department of State sanctioned several of Cuba's "Instruments of Repression" and "Source of Funding."
CIA's Aid in Military Involvement
Surges in American Intel activity often foreshadow U.S. military operations.
The CIA’s increased efforts to locate former Venezuelan Dictator Nicolas Maduro helped facilitate the leader’s swift and successful capture in “Operation Absolute Resolve.”
U.S.'s Previous Efforts In Cuba Have Decreased
The U.S. has performed intelligence activities in Cuba for decades, but the IC’s work in the communist-led nation has dwindled in recent years, “in part due to personnel drawdowns driven by the so-called Havana syndrome incidents”
