Story perspectives

Report Warns Cuba’s Russia, China, Iran Links Threaten Florida

8/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

Melissa Ford Maldonado, director of the America First Policy Institute, called Cuba a U.S. security threat.
The report says Cuba’s ties with Russia, China and Iran enable intelligence and cyber operations near Florida.
A June 18, 2026 CSIS analysis identified four Cuban signals-intelligence sites, several linked to China.
Human Rights Watch reported severe food, medicine and water shortages, prolonged blackouts and a deepening economic crisis in Cuba.

History

Historical Context

During the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, Kennedy ordered a quarantine after U-2 photos revealed Soviet R-12 missiles, prompting the United States to raise DEFCON to 3 on 20 November and deploy about 43,000 Soviet troops to Cuba. Today, America First Policy Institute director Melissa Ford Maldonado warns that Cuba’s new ties with Russia, China and Iran, and four CSIS-identified signals-intelligence stations, echo that Cold-War standoff.

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Story summary

Melissa Ford Maldonado, director of the America First Policy Institute, called Cuba a U.S. security threat.
The report says Cuba’s ties with Russia, China and Iran enable intelligence and cyber operations near Florida.
A June 18, 2026 CSIS analysis identified four Cuban signals-intelligence sites, several linked to China.
Human Rights Watch reported severe food, medicine and water shortages, prolonged blackouts and a deepening economic crisis in Cuba.

1 / 2