Former Obama Advisor Warns US May Resort to Air Strikes on Cuba

Ricardo Zúñiga, a former chief adviser on Western Hemisphere affairs to President Barack Obama, told Telemundo that the United States could launch a military operation against Cuba if diplomatic talks collapse. He emphasized that any action would likely be limited to air strikes rather than a ground invasion, stating, “It’s possible, and I believe it’s likely to end that way.” Zúñiga stressed his remarks are personal assessments, not official policy, and warned that continued U.S. sanctions and a lack of progress could fuel U.S. frustration and trigger such a strike.

He also described the Cuban power structure as a consortium of the armed forces, the Ministry of the Interior and the Communist Party, noting that regime leaders fear total loss of power more than economic collapse. Opinions published alongside his interview argue that, in a worst‑case scenario, the United States or a coalition might consider a humanitarian occupation of the island, citing historical precedents from the early 20th century.