Expanding intelligence infrastructure in Cuba is raising new concern in Washington as U.S. officials warn that China and Russia may be using the island to monitor sensitive American military activity near Florida.
The renewed scrutiny centers on Cuban signals intelligence facilities located less than 100 miles from the U.S. coast.
Analysts say those sites could help foreign adversaries track U.S. military movements, communications patterns and electronic signals connected to nearby bases and operations.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently acknowledged that Cuba hosts Russian and Chinese intelligence presence near the United States.
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Rubio said Cuba has long posed a national security threat because of its close military and intelligence relationships with U.S. adversaries.
Sen. Rick Scott also warned that the facilities present a serious risk because of Cuba’s proximity to Florida and major American defense sites.
“They’re 90 miles from our coast,” Scott said, arguing that Cuba’s relationships with China and Russia make the island a security concern.
One facility drawing attention is Bejucal, located outside Havana.
A recent analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies identified new construction at the site, including a larger circularly disposed antenna array.
That type of antenna system can be used for high-frequency direction finding, allowing operators to locate the origin of radio signals over long distances.
Analysts say such systems may not directly intercept encrypted U.S. military communications, but they can still provide valuable intelligence by tracking patterns over time.
Even if foreign operators cannot read the content of secure communications, they may be able to identify which systems are communicating, when activity increases and where military assets are operating.
That kind of intelligence can help build a picture of U.S. operational behavior.
The concern is especially serious because Cuba sits near several important military and aerospace sites, including Naval Air Station Key West, Homestead Air Reserve Base, U.S. Southern Command in Doral and launch activity tied to Cape Canaveral.
Experts say Cuba’s location has made it valuable for intelligence collection for decades.
During the Cold War, the Soviet Union operated the Lourdes signals intelligence complex near Havana to monitor U.S. military and communications activity.
Analysts argue the same geographic advantage that made Cuba useful to the Soviet Union still makes it attractive to China and Russia today.
U.S. officials have repeatedly suggested that Beijing has access to intelligence infrastructure in Cuba.
The Biden administration previously said Chinese intelligence collection activity tied to Cuba was an ongoing issue and that Beijing had upgraded facilities on the island in 2019.
China has denied involvement in surveillance operations in Cuba, and Cuban officials have dismissed the allegations as false and politically motivated.
Analysts also caution that publicly available evidence has not definitively proven direct Chinese control of the sites.
Still, they say the visible expansion of infrastructure shows that Cuba’s intelligence capabilities are growing.
The issue comes as the Trump administration increases pressure on Havana through sanctions, criminal charges against former Cuban leader Raúl Castro and warnings about Chinese and Russian influence close to the U.S. mainland.
Supporters of a tougher Cuba policy say the island is being used as an intelligence platform by America’s adversaries.
Critics warn that officials should avoid overstating what the sites can actually do without clear public evidence.
For now, the expansion has renewed a long-running national security concern: adversaries may not need to be inside the United States to monitor sensitive American military activity.
They may only need access to Cuba.
Why It Matters
Cuba’s location makes it one of the most strategically sensitive places in the Western Hemisphere. If Chinese or Russian intelligence services are using expanded facilities there, they could monitor patterns around U.S. military bases, aircraft, ships and space launches near Florida.
What Comes Next
The Trump administration is likely to keep increasing pressure on Cuba while lawmakers push for more answers about Chinese and Russian intelligence activity on the island. Analysts will also continue monitoring satellite imagery for signs of further expansion at sites like Bejucal.
A satellite analysis highlighted new construction at Cuba’s Bejucal signals intelligence facility, raising concerns about expanded surveillance capabilities near Florida.
🇨🇳 NEW: Satellite images show the CCP enhancing surveillance capabilities in Communist Cuba and using the island as a beachhead in the Americas.
This is miles from U.S. aerial combat training—the kind to prep for war over Taiwan.
They are picking a fight with the wrong @POTUS. pic.twitter.com/IFiMM9urwi
— POLARIS National Security (@PolarisNatSec) May 7, 2025
