Trump Administration Escalates Cuba Sanctions, Prepares Military Contingency Plans

According to Axios, today the Trump administration is implementing a phased escalation strategy against Cuba and has drafted multiple military contingency plans should the Cuban regime face a crisis this summer. U.S. officials are tightening economic sanctions and imposing secondary sanctions on Cuba's military-industrial conglomerate GAESA, forcing foreign companies including Canadian miner Sherritt International and shipping firms CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd to suspend operations in Cuba.

The U.S. Southern Command recently held a tabletop exercise to discuss response options in scenarios involving mass protests and government crackdowns amid Cuba's summer heat, power outages, and supply shortages. While President Trump has not approved an invasion plan, he has ordered military forces to remain on standby.