CIA creates secret Cuba task force, bolsters pressure on communist regime

The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has secretly formed a dedicated task force on Cuba, aiming to orchestrate a sustained campaign of pressure against the Havana regime. Sources revealed to The New York Times that this initiative seeks to expedite the flow of financial, human, and technological resources toward the island.

The overarching goal is to encourage economic, political, and leadership changes that align with the demands of the Trump administration. The task force is reportedly recruiting specialized personnel, including spies, intelligence analysts, cyber warfare experts, and specialists in covert influence campaigns. This move echoes a historical strategy, as the CIA previously had a similar structure in the 1960s that oversaw the failed Bay of Pigs invasion.

However, the current mandate is more narrowly defined. Unlike the Cold War-era operation, the new group lacks organized partners within Cuba and is not authorized for lethal operations. Its primary objective is to foster divisions within the Cuban political elite, potentially paving the way for more pragmatic leaders open to negotiation with Washington. The U.S. accuses Havana of facilitating intelligence operations for Russia, China, and Iran from the island.

Cuba's Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, criticized the initiative, stating it was unsurprising given Cuba's history as a target of CIA espionage and destabilization efforts. Within the Trump administration, some advisors believe the Cuban government could weaken in the short term, especially after the fall of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, a key ally of Havana. However, others acknowledge that Cuba's resilient system and competing global priorities, such as the conflict with Iran, might delay any profound transformation.