The United States military confirmed on Wednesday that the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group has entered the Caribbean Sea, as tensions between Washington and Havana continue to rise. The US Southern Command issued a statement on the social media platform X, announcing the presence of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, along with Carrier Air Wing 17, the destroyer USS Gridley, and the fleet replenishment oiler USNS Patuxent.
Strategic deployment
The Southern Command described the strike group as embodying readiness, presence, unmatched reach, and strategic advantage. It highlighted that the USS Nimitz has demonstrated combat effectiveness globally, from the Taiwan Strait to the Arabian Gulf, ensuring stability and defending democratic values.
This deployment coincides with the Trump administration's announcement of criminal charges against former Cuban President Raul Castro. He is accused of involvement in the 1996 shootdown of two civilian aircraft belonging to the Miami-based exile group Brothers to the Rescue, an incident that resulted in four fatalities, including three American citizens.
Escalating rhetoric
President Donald Trump has repeatedly asserted that Cuba is next following military actions against Iran, claiming the communist island nation would soon fall. In response, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has warned that Cuba possesses the absolute and legitimate right to self-defense against any military aggression, cautioning that such an attack would lead to a bloodbath with incalculable consequences.
The arrival of the carrier group underscores the heightened state of alert in the region, as both nations brace for potential confrontation.
