Pentagon Memo Signals Potential Cuba Operation Under Trump Administration

The U.S. military is preparing for a potential operation in Cuba, according to a leaked Pentagon memo that outlines a request for specialized units with a timeline of 90 to 120 days, which could place a deployment around Christmas. The internal message from U.S. Army Reserve headquarters asked its commands about their ability to transfer six types of units to Southern Command, which oversees American forces in Latin America and the Caribbean.

While the memo does not explicitly mention Cuba, multiple U.S. officials told CBS News that the planning is directed toward the communist island. The requested units include a forward resuscitative and surgical detachment capable of performing emergency surgery and trauma care near combat zones, a medical brigade to oversee units in the field, and a military police brigade for security and law enforcement missions. Also listed are an engineer battalion, a logistics battalion for managing transportation and supplies, and an expeditionary sustainment command.

No units have received deployment orders, and the memo does not specify the number of troops or the nature of any potential operation. A spokesperson for U.S. Southern Command stated that due to operational security, they do not disclose details about potential deployments but confirmed continuous coordination with the Joint Force to assess requirements across their area of responsibility.

This planning occurs as the Trump administration pursues a policy described by officials as the 'Donroe Doctrine,' aimed at countering adversaries in the Western Hemisphere. The administration recently imposed new sanctions on Cuban officials and military-linked firms. In previous remarks, Trump has expressed a strong stance on Cuba, stating in March that he believed he would "have the honor of taking Cuba" and later declaring that "Cuba's going to be next."

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has publicly vowed to resist any U.S. attack and has accused Washington of aggression and economic warfare, particularly concerning oil import restrictions. U.S. military planners have also reportedly examined the possibility of an air assault on the island by the 101st Airborne Division, though officials have emphasized that no decisions have been made. The preparations come amid ongoing conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, and amid concerns from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney about potential U.S. actions, whom he described as a risk to be managed.