The Pentagon has spent months positioning its troops and necessary equipment for a military attack on Cuba, awaiting final approval from President Donald Trump, writes Politico.
After the failure of economic and political pressures to overthrow the communist government, Trump suggested an invasion of the island.
The extensive presence of the Navy in the region, the largest outside the Middle East, allows for a rapid response and opens the possibility for the U.S. to engage in a third international conflict of the Trump administration.
This deployment includes strike groups, destroyers, and surveillance aircraft that have surrounded Cuba.
"Having a failed state 90 miles from our shores is a threat to the national security of the United States," said Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday.
Although military options are varied, the Pentagon would need additional troops for a ground invasion.
However, the prolonged deployments of warships raise concerns about crew fatigue.
The White House has requested information from the Pentagon, but the Navy has declined to comment.
These long deployments may affect the retention of military personnel, who face uncertainties regarding the duration of missions.
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