According to Politico, despite the ongoing war with Iran the U.S. Navy's
deployment in the Caribbean has not been reduced. The Pentagon has, for months,
positioned the forces needed to attack Cuba and is awaiting Trump's approval.
After economic and diplomatic pressure produced no result, Trump reportedly
proposed invading Cuba. The current concentration of U.S. naval forces in the
region — the largest globally outside the Middle East — enables immediate action
and has laid the groundwork for capturing Cuban leaders or conducting precision
strikes. U.S. Secretary of State Rubio said at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday
that Cuba is "in a very difficult situation" and that the "failed state" 90
miles from the U.S. threatens American security. The U.S. fleet in the region is
currently slightly smaller than it was during the January operation to capture
Maduro, but the USS Nimitz carrier strike group and multiple guided-missile
destroyers and cruisers have entered the Caribbean. U.S. drones and
reconnaissance aircraft have been flying around Cuba for months. The amphibious
assault ship USS Kearsarge is standing by to deploy.
