Hegseth: 'All options on the table' regarding possible capture of Díaz-Canel

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth indicated that "all options are on the table" when questioned by reporters about the possibility of a military operation to capture Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel. Speaking to the media during his visit to U.S. Central Command (Centcom) in Florida, Hegseth stated, "We have options everywhere."

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We have options everywhere.

Responding to inquiries about whether a "capture and kill" operation against Díaz-Canel was being considered, Hegseth elaborated, "In our building, we literally make our living planning. So, besides the Pentagon, nobody plans better than the U.S. Central Command. To get back to the central point of why we are here, all those options are on the table."

Hegseth also commented on the current political climate surrounding Cuba, noting, "There is a lot of pressure on the Cuban regime right now and for good reason." He added that Cuban leaders "have big decisions they should make, and sometimes leaders make the wrong decisions when they are under pressure."

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In our building, we literally make our living planning. So, besides the Pentagon, nobody plans better than the U.S. Central Command. To get back to the central point of why we are here, all those options are on the table.

However, Hegseth avoided explicitly confirming whether the U.S. military was planning an operation similar to the one conducted in Caracas to capture former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. "All I would say is: options, options, options. Our job is to present options on different scales, depending on where the commander in chief, the President of the United States, wants to go," he stated.

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There is a lot of pressure on the Cuban regime right now and for good reason. They have big decisions they should make, and sometimes leaders make the wrong decisions when they are under pressure.

The Secretary of War reiterated a message to Havana, urging them "not to get into a game where it is threatening the United States." He made this statement shortly after declaring at Guantanamo Bay that it would be "imprudent for the Government of Cuba to try to acquire or gain access to weapons that could reach this base or U.S. territory." Hegseth acknowledged that "there is always a risk" but clarified he was not referring to specific intelligence regarding China or Russia arming Cuba. He concluded by stating that the future of Cuba rests with President Trump, and the Department of War would be prepared for any contingency.

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All I would say is: options, options, options. Our job is to present options on different scales, depending on where the commander in chief, the President of the United States, wants to go.