US Military Increases Surveillance Flights Near Cuba Amid Rising Tensions
The US military has significantly increased its intelligence-gathering flights off the coast of Cuba, with at least 25 flights conducted since February 4, 2026. These operations involve manned aircraft and drones, primarily near Havana and Santiago de Cuba, and have been tracked using open-source flight tracking platforms. The flights, which include P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and RC-135V Rivet Joint signals intelligence aircraft, are notable for their proximity to the Cuban coast and their sudden increase in frequency. This surge in surveillance activity coincides with heightened rhetoric from President Trump against Cuba, including a recent oil blockade and expanded sanctions. The Pentagon has not commented on these operations, which have been widely shared on social media, raising questions about whether the US is deliberately signaling its presence to Cuba. 
