The Pentagon has escalated military planning for a potential operation in Cuba, preparing contingency options should President Donald Trump order intervention on the communist-run island just 90 miles from American shores.

Trump Administration Intensifies Pressure Campaign

Two sources familiar with the planning confirmed the Pentagon directive to USA TODAY, speaking anonymously because they lack authorization to discuss the matter publicly. The military preparations follow months of escalating tensions that began in January when the Trump administration restricted oil shipments to Cuba as part of a broader campaign to force political changes in Havana. Trump recently told reporters he expects to have the honor of taking Cuba in some form, adding he believes he can do anything he wants with the island nation.

On April 13, Trump told USA TODAY at the White House that he may stop by Cuba after finishing ongoing operations against Iran. The Pentagon issued a standard statement confirming it plans for a range of contingencies and remains prepared to execute presidential orders as directed. Meanwhile, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel vowed his country would fight back against any American military attack, telling Newsweek that dying for the homeland is to live.

Military Victory Would Come Easy, Experts Say

Brian Fonseca, director of the Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy at Florida International University, believes the military planning represents strategic signaling rather than imminent action. Unlike previous operations in Venezuela and Iran, American officials have not made any case about Cuba posing an imminent threat to national security. Fonseca, who has studied Cuba’s military extensively, predicts any military operation would achieve swift success given the deteriorated condition of Cuban military equipment and low morale among officers serving an unpopular regime.

Political Challenges Would Follow Military Success

The real difficulty would come after military victory, Fonseca warns. Establishing rule of law and supporting opposition leaders would prove far more challenging than defeating Cuban forces. The United States and Cuba acknowledge they remain in early discussions to resolve the crisis, though the extent of possible compromise from either side remains unclear. Reports in March indicated the two nations had discussed a potential historic economic deal to thaw relations, but tensions have continued rising despite these diplomatic channels.