Jeb Bush raises alarm over Iranian drones in Cuba

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R) raised the alarm Wednesday about Iranian drones believed to be in Cuba.
Speaking during the United Against Nuclear Iran event, where he serves as the group’s chairman, Bush said, “Iran poses a persistent threat to the combined security interests of our country, particularly Israel.” he said. “We now see that not only Israel and the USA, but also the Gulf region are at stake. I would also like to point out that there are reports in the press that there are 300 of them. [drones] In Cuba.”
He said the US has capabilities to protect the country before adding that “drones organize in clusters and can get through the defense capabilities, as we’ve seen in the Middle East as well.”
“I think it’s important to recognize that Iran was consistently working with Cuba and Venezuela before Maduro left the regime, creating instability not just in Cuba but certainly in the region,” Bush said, referring to deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. he said.
He praised the current administration’s efforts against Iran’s military capabilities, saying “we’re on the verge of creating a much more peaceable world by standing up against this aggression.”
Bush had taken a hard line against Cuba for years. Before the Republican presidential bid in 2016, then-Sen. Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) opinion that the United States should not negotiate or loosen relations with Cuba. Bush is highly respected by Florida’s exiled Cuban population.
“I think the idea of unilaterally changing our policy for nothing will bring no results,” he said. New York Times In 2014.
Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) joined Bush to highlight the ability of unmanned aerial vehicles to carry heavy explosive payloads over long distances. NBC 6 South Florida reported.
“This particular model has about over 100 pounds of explosives,” he said. “That’s a pretty big explosion. That’s why they call them kamikaze drones; they hit their targets and explode.”
Gimenez told WPLG Local 10A Florida-based outlet said these drones “have a range of approximately 2,500 kilometers and can reach from Cuba to New York.”
In May, Axios reported that Cuba had acquired more than 300 military drones and was discussing plans to attack Guantánamo Bay or the U.S. military base in Key West, Fla., based on classified intelligence. An unnamed senior US official told the press that this increase was a “growing threat”.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned during a visit to Guantanamo Bay last month that U.S. forces “remain prepared for any contingency.”
The Trump administration tried to pressure the Cuban regime to reform by imposing a blockade for months to prevent energy resources from reaching the island nation. Cubans suffered major power outages, taking to the streets to protest the government’s actions.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel warned against any U.S. military intervention after the Axios story was published, warning that if there was an attack it would be “a bloodbath with incalculable consequences.”
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Head to The Hill for the latest news, weather, sports and streaming video.




