U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters at the American Coalition Against Cartels meeting in Panama that the military option was also under consideration regarding Cuba.
Hegseth, who took part in military exercises in Panama, said the United States was working closely with Panama and Ecuador on security and the fight against drug cartels. He said Colombia was the 19th country to join the coalition and that establishing the coalition's headquarters in Colombia had been proposed.
U.S. emphasizes regional partnerships
Hegseth said the coalition's slogan was “We do bad things to bad people” and described the United States as the “partner of choice” for countries in the region.
Hegseth accused China, Russia and Iran of basing their activities in South America on “exploitation.”
All options remain on the table for Cuba
Assessing the situation regarding Cuba, Hegseth said, “All options, including the military option, remain on the table.” Hegseth argued that the Cuban government should take U.S. President Donald Trump's demands into account and claimed that the Cuban military could not match the military power of the United States.
Hegseth also recalled the day former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured by American soldiers. He said that air defense systems supplied by Russia had been unable to protect Caracas and that Cuban security personnel had also been unable to protect Maduro.
Warning of threats to the Panama Canal
Emphasizing the Panama Canal's strategic importance to the United States, Hegseth said Panamanian authorities were ready to cooperate to prevent interference with the canal's operation. He said they would not allow any country to use the Panama Canal as a tool of threat.
Debate over the Cuba blockade
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez described the U.S. blockade of Cuba as an “act of war” in a statement dated July 7. Rodriguez said the blockade was “slowly suffocating and killing” the Cuban people.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on July 23 that change in Cuba would be difficult but necessary for a better future. Rubio accused the Cuban government of clinging to an ideology he considered unsuccessful and of leading the country toward destruction.
At a time when tensions between the United States and Iran continued in the Middle East, U.S. media published reports that the Pentagon was considering various options for action against Cuba.
