Report: CIA established secret team to increase pressure on Cuba

The CIA has established a new secret team to apply additional pressure on the regime in Cuba, aiming to replace anti-American elements with more pragmatic leaders who would meet Trump's demands, as reported by the New York Times. The agency is increasing resources, personnel, and technological means, focusing on recruiting agents and influence operations. Meanwhile, US intelligence bodies are stepping up intelligence collection to help the military update plans for possible action against Cuba.

According to a New York Times report, the CIA has established a new secret team to apply additional pressure on the regime in Cuba, aiming to promote a more coordinated and intense campaign that would bring about economic, political, and regime change as demanded by President Trump. The team is designed to create cracks in the Cuban political leadership, replace hardline anti-American elements with more pragmatic leaders, and gather internal intelligence on the activities of the leaders, including monitoring secret deals. The agency may publish some of the information to influence public opinion. Meanwhile, US intelligence bodies are increasing collection efforts to provide an up-to-date picture of Cuba's intentions and capabilities, and to update possible military plans. Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, said the intentions are not surprising given the CIA's history of espionage and subversion, and accused the US of portraying Cuba as a threat. In May, CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Cuban officials in Havana and warned that if Cuba does not make changes, it could become the 'next Venezuela'. Trump's advisers assess that the Cuban regime may only fall after the campaign with Iran concludes.