Cuba's reported acquisition of over 300 military drones and escalating rhetoric with the United States have led to the release of a controversial civil defense guide, sparking anger and confusion among Cubans already struggling with blackouts and shortages.

The "Family Guide for the Protection of the Population in the Event of Military Aggression" recommends packing a backpack with documents, radio, flashlight, matches, candles, first-aid kit, three days of food, drinking water, hygiene items, and medications. It also advises identifying shelters for potential airstrikes.

The guide comes amid heightened tensions, with US President Donald Trump hinting at action against Cuba, saying "Cuba is next." Axios reported, citing intelligence sources, that Cuba had acquired over 300 military drones and was evaluating their use near the US base at Guantanamo.

Analyst Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, a professor at George Mason University, downplayed the threat, stating, "In military and strategic terms, 300 drones are nothing compared to the capacity of the United States. The asymmetries are enormous." She emphasized the broader geopolitical context, noting Cuba's strategic location and potential alliances with US adversaries.

International relations expert Juan Battaleme argued that the greatest risk to Washington may be a humanitarian crisis rather than military action. "If unrest triggers mass migration, images of Cubans fleeing by sea or seeking aid in Guantanamo would come at an enormous political cost for Washington," he said.

Battaleme added that the US seeks an orderly transition in Cuba to avoid regional instability. "Cuba today resembles Venezuela in recent years: an extremely vulnerable country partly sustained by external support," he noted. Despite harsh rhetoric, he believes a direct confrontation is still far off, with the situation unfolding more on the political front than the military one.

Source: www.dw.com