The US Army Reserve is evaluating whether it can make medical, military police and other support units available to US Southern Command within 90 to 120 days as part of contingency planning related to possible military action in Cuba, according to US officials.
Officials, who spoke anonymously, emphasized that the assessment is not a deployment order and does not mean President Donald Trump has decided to launch a military operation.
An internal directive has asked subordinate commands to determine the availability of six categories of units that could potentially be assigned to SOUTHCOM within the specified timeframe.
The formations being assessed include medical brigades, forward surgical teams, military police units, engineer battalions and sustainment command elements.
Although Cuba is not mentioned in the directive itself, several US officials told local media that the request is connected to ongoing military planning involving possible action against Havana.
Officials also stressed that such readiness assessments are routinely used for contingency planning and should not necessarily be interpreted as evidence that military action is imminent.
The assessment comes as the Trump administration continues to increase political and economic pressure on Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel’s government.
On Sept. 17, the US Treasury Department announced Cuba-related sanctions targeting entities and officials linked to the Cuban military.
Diaz-Canel has previously said that Cuba would be ready to defend itself against any US aggression, while rejecting claims that Havana represents a military threat to Washington.
The latest assessment follows earlier reports that US military planners had explored potential operations involving Cuba. In July, CBS News reported that Pentagon officials had examined several military options, while emphasizing that no final decision had been taken.
The Army Reserve directive does not indicate that troops have been ordered to deploy or that an operation is about to begin.
SOUTHCOM has not publicly provided any timeline for potential military action involving Cuba.
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