U.S. military takes inventory of support troops, plans related to Cuba

File photo of US President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio (left). The Trump administration has recently continued to increase economic and political pressure on Cuba, and the US military has also been revealed to be taking stock of support forces that may be provided to Southern Command. Both Rubio's parents were born in Cuba. (AFP file photo)

[Compiled by Chen Chengliang/Comprehensive Report] Is the United States preparing to take military action against Cuba? The latest exposure of internal US military documents shows that the US Army Reserve is taking inventory of six types of support forces that can be provided to the US Southern Command (Southern Command), some of which may be needed within 90 to 120 days. Multiple US officials confirmed that this military plan is related to Cuba.

CBS News exclusively reported on the 25th that this internal message issued by the U.S. Army Reserve Command requires all subordinate units to report available troops and assess whether they can provide support to Southern Command, which is responsible for the defense of Central and South America and the Caribbean, within the next three to four months. The document did not name Cuba and did not say where the troops would be sent or what operations they would support.

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The forces being solicited include the Combat Maintenance Support Battalion and Engineer Battalion responsible for transportation, maintenance, fuel and supplies, the Expeditionary Support Command responsible for theater logistics, and the Medical Brigade that coordinates field medical care. In addition, it also includes the Forward Resuscitation and Surgical Team (FRSD) that can provide emergency surgery and trauma care on the front line, and the Military Police Brigade responsible for security, detention and law enforcement missions.

The plan to add military police to the battlefield is related to Cuba

Although the document does not directly mention Cuba, multiple U.S. officials who were not authorized to speak publicly told CBS News that the planning is part of ongoing preparations for military action in Cuba. Earlier this year, the U.S. military also launched reconnaissance operations on the seabed around Cuba and in and out of the sea. The U.S. military's air force once increased its combat readiness and pre-deployed personnel to prepare for possible missions, but the relevant plans were not subsequently implemented.

CBS News also reported in July this year that US military planners have evaluated various options for military action against Cuba, including a large-scale air assault carried out by the US Army's 101st Airborne Division involving thousands of soldiers. However, U.S. officials emphasized at the time that the relevant briefing did not mean that President Trump or the Pentagon had decided to launch military action.

This wave of military planning also comes as Trump continues to exert pressure on Cuba in recent times. Trump recently stated at the United Nations General Assembly that the United States seeks "fundamental changes" in Cuba, predicted the collapse of Cuba's communist government, and declared that "freedom will come to Cuba." He has also publicly stated before that "Cuba will be next."

Regarding this internal document, a spokesperson for the U.S. Southern Command said that based on operational security considerations, the military will not disclose or comment on current and possible future military operations, contingency plans or deployment schedules, but that Southern Command will continue to coordinate with various services to assess various needs in the area of ​​responsibility. There is currently no sign that any troops have received deployment orders, and related operations are still in the combat readiness resource inventory stage.