Long dismissed as a Cold War relic, Cuba is rapidly becoming a pivotal flashpoint in China’s global rivalry with the United States. Its location—just 90 miles from Florida—offers Beijing a strategic launching pad to expand its intelligence and military footprint in the Western Hemisphere. What began as quiet diplomatic ties has now morphed into a visible and dangerous escalation.
A Decades-Long Courtship Bears Fruit
The foundation of China’s interest in Cuba predates the Trump administration by decades. As early as 1999, Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Chi Haotian secured access to several Soviet-era listening stations in Cuba during meetings with then-Defense Minister Raúl Castro. Among them was the Bejucal base, a hub of surveillance activity less than 10 miles from the infamous Lourdes station once used by the Soviets.
These agreements laid the groundwork for what analysts now call China’s “strategic battleground” in the Caribbean—an effort that has gone largely unnoticed by the public until recent headlines brought it to light.
Surveillance Network Expands as U.S. Hesitates
In summer 2023, U.S. intelligence sources confirmed reports that China had significantly ramped up its spy operations in Cuba. Initially denied by the Pentagon, the Biden administration eventually acknowledged the existence of Chinese bases—carefully noting the operations began in 2019 to shift blame toward the Trump era.
However, this selective memory ignores the long-standing pattern of Chinese expansion. In 2024, new satellite imagery revealed a growing Chinese military presence in Cuba and the development of new training facilities on the island. Intelligence reports have also suggested the possibility of oil and gas platforms operating off Cuba’s coast with embedded surveillance tech aimed at the U.S.
Florida in the Crosshairs
Florida now sits squarely within range of these Chinese surveillance sites. More than twenty sensitive U.S. government facilities are located in the state, making the region a prime target for Chinese intelligence gathering.
Former U.S. Northern Command chief Gen. Glen VanHerck previously warned about Chinese activity in the Bahamas, just 50 miles from the Florida coast. Now, with growing assets in both Cuba and the Gulf of Mexico, China’s eyes and ears are firmly planted in America’s southern backyard.
Cuba’s Role in the CCP’s Global Axis
Cuba is no longer acting alone. It is joining forces with China’s growing network of allies—Russia, North Korea, Iran, Venezuela, and South Africa—under Xi Jinping’s “no limits” doctrine of geopolitical confrontation. In January 2025, Cuba formally joined the BRICS alliance, with Beijing engineering its entrance to increase its regional influence.
During a high-profile meeting in Moscow, Xi Jinping and Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel discussed deepening their strategic partnership. Cuba’s role is clear: serve as a regional outpost for Chinese influence and surveillance while gaining economic and political lifelines from its new patrons.
Yuan Diplomacy and Latin America’s Tilt
Following a temporary tariff truce with the U.S., China launched a new charm offensive in the Americas. At a CELAC summit in Beijing on May 13, the Chinese Communist Party offered $9.2 billion in credit—denominated not in U.S. dollars, but in Chinese yuan.
This financial maneuver aimed to weaken U.S. economic influence and accelerate yuan internationalization. Leaders from Brazil, Chile, and Colombia embraced the deal, signaling a broader Latin American pivot toward Beijing.
Yet, among all these nations, Cuba remains China’s most valuable strategic asset—offering intelligence access, ideological alignment, and geographic proximity to the U.S. mainland.
A New Cuban Crisis?
While there are no confirmed Chinese missiles in Cuba—yet—the scale and speed of Beijing’s buildup on the island has many experts raising alarm. A new Cold War-style standoff is brewing, and Cuba is once again ground zero.
As Foreign Affairs recently warned, President Trump may seek to end decades of U.S. neglect in the region, with Cuba as a central battleground in reasserting American strength in the hemisphere.
The Chinese footprint in Cuba is no longer hypothetical—it’s operational. And with every month that passes, Beijing tightens its grip on America’s underbelly.
