Opinion: US Must Prioritize Removing Adversaries from Cuba

This opinion piece argues that the United States must make expelling adversarial influences from Cuba its immediate national security priority. Since 1959, Cuba has engaged in gray zone operations, serving as a proxy for US adversaries to conduct espionage and undermine American security. The article highlights recent executive orders by President Trump, which cite Cuba’s hosting of Russia’s largest overseas signals intelligence facility, deepening defense cooperation with China, and harboring groups like Hizballah and Hamas. Despite severe humanitarian crises, including grid failures and mass emigration, the Cuban government continues to prioritize anti-US activities over economic management. While previous administrations attempted varying degrees of engagement or sanctions, the current stance involves tightened blockades and pressure on Cuba’s allies, Russia and China. The author contends that although a shift toward transactional diplomacy is possible, the US must remain focused on neutralizing these security threats. The piece emphasizes that Cuba’s military and intelligence sectors are corrupt yet active, facilitating malign influence in the Western Hemisphere while the civilian population suffers under collapsing infrastructure and limited support from international allies.