“We recently had a conflict with Venezuela, and a new one with Cuba might be on the horizon.”
Puerto Rico Governor Jennifer González Colón has raised alarms about the potential for the United States to engage in a war with Cuba in the coming week. During a recent discussion on Molusco TV, González pointed to the increasing list of American conflicts, especially in Latin America, as evidence that Puerto Rico remains critical to Washington’s strategic interests.
JGC: Ronald Reagan stated [in the early 1980s] that Puerto Rico was ready to become part of the United States, noting that it would be advantageous for the country.
Interviewer: But that was during the Cold War.
JGC: The Cold War was then, just as we are experiencing a similar tension now. We are currently confronting China, Iran, and Russia; we’ve had a conflict with Venezuela until recently, and we are set to have one with Cuba shortly.”
It is notable to hear the governor of Puerto Rico—an “unincorporated” U.S. territory with approximately 3.2 million residents who lack voting rights in U.S. elections—speak so casually about conflicts involving multiple nations. González’s remarks align with the sentiment shared by some other Latin American leaders, such as Argentina’s Milei, who has branded Iran as an “enemy.”
While González may play a minor role in the broader context of U.S. military strategy in the Caribbean, Puerto Rico has historically been significant in American operations, including its involvement as a launch point for efforts against Venezuela, as reported by Reuters.
The U.S. military is enhancing a long-closed Cold War naval base in the Caribbean, suggesting preparations for potential operations that could support actions within Venezuela.
Recent activities at the former Roosevelt Roads naval base in Puerto Rico—abandoned by the Navy over two decades ago—were noted on September 17, with crews clearing and repaving taxiways leading to the runway, according to photographs obtained by Reuters.
Roosevelt Roads, before the Navy’s withdrawal in 2004, was one of the largest U.S. naval installations globally, occupying a strategic position that allows substantial equipment storage, as noted by a U.S. official.
Alongside improvements at Roosevelt Roads, the U.S. is also expanding facilities at civilian airports in Puerto Rico and St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, located about 500 miles from Venezuela.
In a notable incident on January 3, Nicolás Maduro’s plane reportedly made a brief stop at the Ramey Base in Aguadilla, according to Telenoiticias. This stop was triggered by a medical emergency before U.S. forces moved the abducted president onto a boat destined for New York.
There is speculation that González’s comments might stem from insider knowledge of U.S. military plans regarding Cuba, or they may simply be political posturing related to her campaign for Puerto Rican statehood.
In the same interview, she expressed that Puerto Rico should be viewed not as “the ugly duckling” but as a crucial strategic asset for U.S. pharmaceutical and military supply chains. “Puerto Rico is essential in these areas,” stated González. “We were significant in the situation with Venezuela just six months ago, and we will continue to play a key role in U.S. public policy regarding Latin America.”
Her statements arrive at a pivotal time for U.S. foreign policy, particularly with the ceasefire in West Asia being precarious. While the possibility of a military strike against Cuba remains uncertain—especially concerning renewed fighting in the Persian Gulf—the Trump administration may seek a distraction from its numerous failures, potentially viewing energy-deprived Cuba as a viable target.
Recently, the Southern Command announced the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz to the Caribbean as part of its Southern Seas 2026 mission, which aims to strengthen maritime alliances and security in the region.
Additionally, the U.S. is intensifying its legal efforts against Cuban leadership. On May 20, the Justice Department declared it had filed charges against 94-year-old Raúl Castro Ruz and five others for their alleged involvement in the 1996 downing of two Brothers to the Rescue planes, resulting in the deaths of four civilians.
The implications of the indictment against Castro remain unclear. Veteran Italian journalist Federico Lampini suggests that it may either precede military action similar to that against Maduro or merely serve as leverage in negotiations with Cuba:
Rubio recognizes that the U.S. has a poor history of achieving regime change. This could explain why, during a recent visit to Havana, the CIA director’s first request was to end all military and intelligence activities from Russia and China—an initial step towards a Venezuelan-style “regime change” aimed at shifting from an adversarial to a subservient relationship with Washington.
On the subject of Venezuela, it appears that the key figure now wielding power in Caracas is Mauricio Claver-Carone, previously the U.S. State Department’s head of Latin America. Claver-Carone previously admitted that the United States provided Argentina with a disastrous $57 billion IMF bailout in 2018 driven by geopolitical motives.
Delcy’s ‘gatekeeper’: ex-Trump official Claver-Carone holds keys to Caracas
Well-placed sources say the hardliner is “picking who can operate” in Venezuela, controlling access – and creating conflicts of interest
By @MaxBlumenthalhttps://t.co/fY8WIaGruc
— The Grayzone (@TheGrayzoneNews) May 25, 2026
Shortly after the U.S. unveiled charges against Raúl Castro, reports surfaced about the mobilization of troops from Puerto Rico for an undisclosed mission, as Fort Buchanan reported. This could be a foreboding sign, especially considering Puerto Rico’s role in the January 3 U.S. operation against Venezuela.
In the lead-up to the Venezuelan intervention, significant military training took place at Roosevelt Roads. As Swiss Info reported shortly after the attack:
Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer Gonzalez emphasized the island’s vital role in supporting the U.S. operation against the Venezuelan government, which led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro. This, she asserted, highlights “Puerto Rico’s importance in national defense, and it’s a point of pride for Puerto Ricans to be part of this great nation.”
Roosevelt Roads, located in Ceiba (eastern Puerto Rico), served as a military training area over the preceding two months and reportedly was also involved in Maduro’s transport to the U.S.
As a U.S. Commonwealth, Puerto Rico enjoys a degree of autonomy alongside its local government, although areas such as defense and foreign relations remain under U.S. oversight.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also temporarily suspended over 300 flights to Puerto Rico due to safety concerns.
In response to recent threats from Washington and Miami, Cuba has ramped up civil defense drills and distributed survival guides to prepare for possible military aggression. The Cuban government has denounced the charges against Raúl Castro as “fabricated” and issued warnings of “fierce resistance” to any incursions.
Cuba has intensified military activity nationwide, with coordinated patrols and drone operations, anticipating an imminent invasion.
— Patricia Marins (@pati_marins64) May 24, 2026
As noted by Patricia Marins, Cuba is bracing for a potential invasion, with humanitarian aid arriving from nations like China and Mexico. In the meantime, U.S. officials have issued subpoenas to activists for providing medical assistance to Cuba, incursions that have exacerbated tensions.
Medea Benjamin’s alleged crime? Delivering vital food supplies to a nation facing starvation due to U.S. policies.
— Michael Galant (@michael_galant) May 24, 2026
Despite receiving only a single shipment of Russian oil this year, Cuba continues to face challenges. Both Moscow and Beijing have expressed support for Cuba, particularly in light of the indictment against Castro, though Russia is preoccupied with its own challenges in Ukraine.
With Marco Rubio helming operations in Cuba, there’s growing concern that the U.S. might return to pre-revolutionary practices akin to earlier mob influences, as highlighted by Puerto Rican Twitter user COMBATE, who provides a historical overview of how the U.S. crime syndicate once dominated Cuba, lost that grip after the 1959 revolution, and subsequently collaborated with the CIA for attempted takeovers.
A transnational mob network led by Meyer Lansky and Santo Trafficante historically managed Cuba as an extraction point for the U.S. empire: trafficking, gambling, narcotics, and political corruption.
The full narrative details the methods used by U.S. interests to manipulate Cuban governance and the lengths they would go to in an effort to regain control after the revolution.
Cuba’s “Polycrisis”
In an insightful piece on Cuba’s ailing health system, Arucho Castro delves into the island’s current “polycrisis,” arising from declines in key economic sectors, damage from Hurricane Melissa in 2025, and the lasting impacts of the U.S. energy blockade.
Key Issues:
- Water Systems Deterioration: “With 84% of the nation’s water-pumping systems reliant on electricity, disruptions have resulted in increased dependence on water tanker trucks, with numbers rising significantly this year.”
- Medicine Supply Collapse: “By September 2025, 69% of essential medications were in short supply, and this has only worsened, with 80% of domestically produced drugs falling below required levels.”
- Transportation Shutdown: “Jet fuel shortages have paralyzed international air travel and impacted the distribution of medical supplies.”
- Life Expectancy and Infant Mortality: “With rising health crises since the pandemic, maternal and infant mortality is expected to spike, reversing decades of health progress.”
- Preventable Infant Deaths: “Infants relying on incubators are at heightened risk due to healthcare shortages.”
- Blood Shortages: “Blood banks face capacity reductions due to shortages of crucial reagents and medicines.”
- Chronic Conditions: “Millions suffering from chronic conditions are experiencing treatment interruptions, increasing risks of complications.”
- Child Malnutrition: “Cuba’s food assistance programs have drastically declined amidst agricultural and logistical challenges.”
The dire humanitarian crisis in Cuba could lead to significant concessions to Washington in an effort to avert a military strike. If not, the implications might spur a surge in migration toward the U.S. and Mexico, as well as potentially expand narcotrafficking networks.
At the same time, escalating tensions in Bolivia suggest an imminent declaration of martial law as the DEA collaborates with Bolivian military forces to target Evo Morales. It is disheartening to witness Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva once again act in accordance with U.S. interests while his own nation grapples with threats of American intervention.
Lula, who previously dispatched troops to support George Bush’s invasion of Haiti, once more compromises his integrity by providing support to the Bolivian regime, which recently resorted to violence against protesters.
— Camila Lourdes Galarza (@sovietwithsazon) May 26, 2026
