Cuba signals readiness to resist US pressure amid military decline | Ukraine news

Newly released training footage and expert analysis hint at Havana’s determination to deter US pressure, even as equipment ages and troop numbers shrink.

In the spring of 1990, the Cuban president Fidel Castro faced the prospect of a conflict with the United States – for the first time without hope of aid from the Soviet Union. According to CNN, he allegedly stated that Cuba would rather become another Numantia than be conquered, hinting at a willingness to resist.

Castro drew attention to the ancient Roman defense of Numantia in 133 BCE, where inhabitants refused to surrender and chose death within the city walls rather than capitulation. Numantia became a motif in Fidel Castro’s speeches in the later years of his rule amid the weakening of the Cuban army after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the reduction of financial support.

Today Cuba faces new threats from the United States, and its leadership is following a similar script, delicately underscoring a willingness to resist even in the absence of full capabilities, said Frank Mora, a Cuba policy expert, in a CNN interview.

In the last 35 years there is no doubt to say that this first-world army has now become, at best, a shell compared with what it used to be.

– Frank Mora

In April footage emerged showing the outdated Soviet ZU-23 anti-aircraft gun being drawn by oxen; according to local sources, it was used during training exercises at a local range. Other clips show both old trucks and modern Soviet-Russian missile launch systems, as well as elite units practicing drills such as rope descents over the coastline.

Official circles in Cuba assure that the country has no intention of threatening the United States – neither at Guantánamo Base nor anywhere in the Indo-Pacific, but is ready to defend itself in case of an attack. In April, President Miguel Díaz-Canel told Newsweek that in case of military aggression “if we die in battle, dying for the homeland is living.”

If military aggression occurs, and we die in battle, dying for the homeland will live on.

– Miguel Díaz-Canel

On a growing number of army cadres, experts later noted that at the peak, nearly a quarter of a century ago, Cuba had more than 235,000 active-duty personnel and significant reserves – the army was seen as a “first-world army” in a third-world country thanks to Soviet hardware.

Subsequently, the army’s strength declined sharply, and according to experts today there are no more than about 50,000 active units, with most of the equipment consisting of outdated Soviet hardware left over from the USSR’s collapse in 1991. Still, Cuba preserved some substantial but outdated samples, which reappear in video released by the Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces. Thus, in one clip, troops practice maneuvers with a modernized Soviet BM-21 Grad system, which can assist both in rapid assaults and in defense against an opponent.

Footage shows troops taking turns maneuvering on a training ground, turning the launcher tubes, and coordinating actions with noticeable flags. In the foreground, the “Ural” brand is visible on the front of the truck – a sign of a more modern Russian update of gear developed at the dawn of the Cold War.

In another clip, one of these units fires missiles in the reverse shot to a stern classical orchestral soundtrack. The footage is also accompanied by nostalgic archival shots of Cuban forces in training. According to Mora, “over the last 35 years” this army, once considered a “first-world army,” has become a “shell” relative to its former state.

Economic difficulties and the absence of Soviet support led to a prolonged decline in defense – from the 1990s to the 2000s. As part of a strategic review, Cuba shifted to a sand-dune tactic – focusing on resistance and resilience rather than warfare on open terrain, a shift noted by former American Lieutenant Colonel Mark Cancian. Under this approach, Cuban officers now train soldiers more in guerrilla tactics than in conventional frontline warfare.

Later footage from the Cuban army shows various scenes: from infantry parades to maneuvers in maritime and jungle conditions, the use of armored personnel carriers and launch systems. Soldiers often wear camouflage uniforms and hide in trenches, while other clips show armored personnel carriers emerging from the jungle and infantry practicing a beach assault. Experts believe such tactics could make the Cuban army considerably less vulnerable even to a stronger opponent.

Other footage with a clear emphasis on outdated military training raises questions – for example, a special unit descending by rope from the roof of a base near Havana; soldiers fire almost improvised, and others strap cameras and drive mechanisms at distances of hundreds of feet from the streets. In one clip, a fighter performs martial arts as part of an elite unit, training in an inner courtyard with a surface reminiscent of a four-square play area.

“Ready to defend the homeland,” is the caption for the footage.

Limited Resources and a Comparison with the Air Forces

As for aviation, its potential has declined since the Cold War. The fleet now mainly consists of a few Soviet-made Mi-17 helicopters used for training or humanitarian missions. Cuba previously had several MiGs, but most of them, according to experts, are likely non-operational due to wear and fuel shortages. Mora noted that it is hard to fly a fourth-generation Russian fighter without fuel.

Last month Axios reported that Cuba had purchased more than 300 military drones. Details about the types remain unclear; experts point out they could provide a one-off strike capability but deprive the regime of the ability for a further significant retaliatory response. Official Cuban representatives vehemently deny these data. So far there have been no drone images; available footage likely shows training with small unmanned aircraft.

All this indicates that Cuba is trying to show strength and a readiness to repel potential threats from the United States while keeping its armament and modernization limited. The CNN piece notes that materials with the footage come from official sources of the country to support an image of defensive readiness rather than a demonstration of full combat capability.

A CNN piece featuring Patrick Oppmann notes that despite limited resources, Cuba continues to seek ways to demonstrate readiness and deter threats from Washington, while hoping external actors’ attention will turn away from conflict.

CNN notes that Cuba’s actual combat capability and its ability to withstand contemporary challenges will depend on future political and economic decisions, as the country continues to adapt to a new geopolitical landscape.

In sum, analysis of the footage and experts’ statements points to the reality: Cuba aims to preserve an image of strength in a world with limited capabilities, but real combat readiness leaves many questions that the future must answer.

The piece ends with the conclusion: limited resources do not diminish Cuba’s drive to demonstrate defensive readiness and resistance, but the army’s real strength depends on political will and long-term economic support.