US sanctions Cuban fuel firms as Trump alleges Iranian drones on island
President Trump has threatened action over unverified reports of Iranian drones in Cuba while tightening an energy blockade that forces European firms to reassess their Caribbean exposure.
President Donald Trump stated on Monday that the US is investigating whether Iran has stored drones and missiles in Cuba. He warned that Washington will act if the presence of such weapons is confirmed.
"If they have them, and it's very possible that they do, we'll take care of it," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office, noting that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was in an adjoining room. The president provided no photographs, intelligence documents, or details regarding the number, model, or location of the alleged equipment.
The question that prompted the remarks came from a conservative journalist referencing a previously unpublished report. The only confirmed action is a US review of the matter. Cuba has not commented on the claims, and Washington has not confirmed the weaponry exists or poses an imminent threat.
The allegations carry echoes of the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, when the discovery of Soviet nuclear missiles on the island sparked two weeks of global fear before a diplomatic resolution. A separate analysis by Axios, cited in multiple media outlets, claims Cuba has incorporated over 300 Russian and Iranian military drones since 2023.
According to that analysis, Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces have spent years planning the potential use of these systems against US targets. These targets reportedly include the Guantánamo naval base and facilities in Key West.
For European businesses, the immediate risk lies in the rapid escalation of US economic pressure rather than military conflict. The State Department recently designated 10 entities tied to the Cuban government, including fuel traders Enetec S.A. and Coreydan S.A., alongside business groups Gecomex and Gemar.
These designations compound a US energy blockade imposed since January, which Cuban authorities link to severe nationwide power cuts, including one last Friday. European commodities firms, logistics operators, and financial institutions must now navigate an increasingly complex sanctions environment when assessing any Caribbean exposure.
The regulatory pressure extends to the highest levels of the Cuban state. Washington recently sanctioned President Miguel Díaz-Canel, several of his family members, and Colonel Alejandro Castro Espín. The colonel, son of former president Raúl Castro, is also facing a US Justice Department indictment over the 1996 downing of two planes flown by Cuban exiles, an attack that killed four people.
