US military surveillance activity near Cuba has sharply increased in recent months as the island grapples with a severe fuel shortage and deepening political frictions with Washington. Open-source flight tracking data and media analyses indicate that since early February, the US Navy and Air Force have conducted more than two dozen reconnaissance missions close to Cuban airspace, with many flights operating near Havana and Santiago de Cuba.
Aircraft identified include P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol jets, RC-135V Rivet Joint electronic intelligence platforms and high-altitude MQ-4C Triton drones, all designed for extended surveillance and signals collection. Several sorties reportedly approached to within about 40 miles of Cuba’s coastline, a range suited for detailed monitoring of radar, communications and other electronic emissions.
The uptick in flights coincides with a fuel emergency on the island. Cuba’s energy minister recently acknowledged that the country has effectively run out of diesel and fuel oil, forcing blackouts of up to 20–22 hours a day in parts of Havana and leaving only limited gas from domestic wells feeding the grid. Cuban officials blame US sanctions and pressure for discouraging traditional fuel suppliers, contributing to the collapse of reserves.
The Trump administration has layered new sanctions on Cuba’s security, defense, financial and energy sectors, while Cuban leaders describe the combination of economic restrictions and intensified aerial surveillance as multidimensional aggression. US officials cited in press reports have said Washington is not currently considering imminent military action, but the surveillance tempo and the island’s power crisis are heightening regional tension.