The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has established a covert task force focused on Cuba, aiming to intensify efforts to pressure the Cuban government to enact economic and political changes aligned with the objectives of the Trump administration, according to individuals familiar with the operation. The move is part of a broader U.S. intelligence emphasis on Cuba, which has been elevated to a top priority.
The newly formed task force is tasked with applying financial, personnel, and technical resources to operate against Cuba. It comprises case officers responsible for recruiting and managing intelligence assets, analysts, cyberoperation specialists, and officers skilled in covert influence activities. Unlike the earlier Cuba task force formed in 1960, which played a role in the Bay of Pigs invasion, this iteration has a narrower aim: to create divisions within the Cuban political elite. The hope is that such fissures will encourage the replacement of hard-line officials with more pragmatic leaders willing to engage with U.S. demands.
Sources noted that the current task force operates without organized Cuban partners and is not authorized to facilitate lethal activities, though such mandates could potentially change under presidential authority. Its establishment highlights an anticipatory stance within the CIA for a potentially prolonged covert campaign against Cuba, long regarded as a challenging target.
The task force’s creation accompanies increased intelligence gathering by multiple U.S. agencies. The Trump administration designated Cuba as a "Priority 1" country in its National Intelligence Priorities Framework, placing it alongside nations like China, Iran, and Russia. In response, agencies such as the National Security Agency and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency have redirected assets, including satellites, to intensify surveillance and information collection on the island. This enhanced intelligence aims to provide the U.S. military with updated insights into Cuban military capabilities and intentions, supporting contingency planning for possible military actions.
Officers within the task force are reportedly analyzing newly acquired intelligence to track Cuba’s leadership, financial networks, and clandestine economic dealings. The CIA may eventually disclose selected information publicly to exert pressure on the Cuban government and sway public opinion, following tactics previously employed against other adversaries.
Historically, the CIA’s involvement in Cuba has been complex. In 2015, the U.S. and Cuba restored formal diplomatic relations, during which then-CIA director John O. Brennan engaged with Cuban officials, including Alejandro Castro, son of former President Raúl Castro, to explore intelligence cooperation. These discussions ultimately stalled amid mutual accusations of non-compliance with agreed confidence-building measures.
More recently, in May 2024, CIA Director John Ratcliffe met in Havana with Raúl G. Rodríguez Castro, the grandson of Raúl Castro. Ratcliffe conveyed a message that positioned the Cuban government as both a formidable adversary and a potential partner but warned that time was running out for Cuba to undertake requested reforms. The communication implied that failure to do so could result in Cuba facing a fate similar to that of Venezuela.
While some hawkish advisers within the Trump administration anticipated a rapid collapse of the Cuban government, especially following pressure on Venezuela, Cuba has demonstrated resilience despite stringent U.S. sanctions and a debilitating oil embargo. Concurrently, ongoing engagements in the Middle East have diverted U.S. attention and resources from Cuba-related initiatives.
During the Cold War, the CIA maintained a limited presence at the U.S. Embassy in Havana but faced significant challenges due to intense Cuban surveillance. These operational difficulties persisted into the 21st century and worsened after embassy staff reported symptoms of the so-called Havana syndrome during the Trump administration, leading to the closure of the CIA’s station on the island.
The station was reopened in 2024 under the Biden administration; however, agency personnel continue to operate under tight scrutiny and substantial restrictions on their movements. The formation of the new Cuba task force signals a renewed and focused effort by U.S. intelligence to influence and understand the Cuban government amid persistent geopolitical tensions.