US Spy Flights Surge On Cuba, Mimicking Pre-Venezuela Action

"U.S. Navy and Air Force aircraft and drones have surged near Cuba since early February, according to an analysis from CNN on Sunday. At least twenty five flights were conducted, most near Havana and Santiago de Cuba. P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, used for surveillance, RC-135V Rivet Joint, used to collect signal intelligence, and MQ-4C Triton high-altitude reconnaissance drones have all traveled to areas close to the island, per the report. And Some flights have gotten within forty miles of the country, according to FlightRadar24."

"The flights are notable not only for their proximity to the coast, which puts them well within range of gathering intelligence, but for the suddenness of their appearance prior to February, such publicly visible flights were exceedingly rare in this area and for their timing, the CNN report reads."

"Trump has floated a U.S. takeover of Cuba for months, claiming that the country's communist government was ready to fall days after the capture and arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in January. Days later, Trump instituted an oil blockade on the country, which in March caused Cuba's electrical grid to collapse due to dwindling fuel."

"A similar type of visible surveillance flight began near the Venezuelan coast before the Maduro operation, as did flights and drones around Iran before the war began. The three aircraft and drones seen over Cuba were also part of the U.S. operation in Iran once the conflict started."

U.S. Navy and Air Force aircraft and drones have increased near Cuba since early February, with at least twenty-five flights reported, mostly near Havana and Santiago de Cuba. P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, RC-135V Rivet Joint signal intelligence aircraft, and MQ-4C Triton high-altitude reconnaissance drones have traveled close to the island. Some flights have reportedly approached within forty miles of Cuba. The flights are notable for their proximity to the coast, which enables intelligence collection, and for their sudden public visibility, which had been rare in the area. The timing mirrors earlier U.S. visible surveillance activity near Venezuela and Iran before military actions began. Trump has also discussed a potential U.S. takeover of Cuba and later imposed an oil blockade that contributed to Cuba’s electrical grid collapse in March.

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