US intensifies reconnaissance flights near Cuba – CNN
Kyiv • UNN
Since February, the US has conducted 25 reconnaissance flights near the coast of Cuba. Activity increased after Trump introduced an oil blockade of the island.
The U.S. military has significantly increased the number of reconnaissance flights near the coast of Cuba. Since the beginning of February, the U.S. has conducted at least 25 such missions using manned aircraft and drones. This was reported by CNN with reference to an analysis of open aviation data from FlightRadar24, according to UNN.
Details
According to the TV channel, most of the flights took place near Havana and Santiago de Cuba, with some aircraft approaching the island within less than 40 miles.
For these missions, the U.S. used P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, RC-135V Rivet Joint reconnaissance aircraft, as well as MQ-4C Triton drones. CNN notes that prior to February, such flights in this area were almost never recorded in open data.
Activity coincided with Trump's tougher rhetoric
The TV channel points out that the intensification of flights occurred following the escalation of U.S. President Donald Trump's statements regarding Cuba. In particular, he previously reposted a message stating that he would "visit a free Havana" before the end of his presidential term, and later ordered an oil blockade of the island.
Currently, the Trump administration has also expanded sanctions against Cuba and claims that the island poses a "threat" to U.S. national security.
Cuban authorities reject these accusations and state their readiness for negotiations with Washington. At the same time, Havana declared that in the event of an attack, they are prepared to wage guerrilla warfare against American forces.
The U.S. has used similar tactics before
CNN notes that a similar pattern was previously observed before U.S. military operations in Venezuela and Iran. In the case of Venezuela, the increase in reconnaissance flights began after Trump's harsh statements regarding then-President Nicolás Maduro and continued until the American operation in Caracas.
According to the TV channel, a similar situation was recorded before the joint U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. P-8A Poseidon, RC-135V Rivet Joint aircraft, and MQ-4C Triton drones were also used for reconnaissance at that time.