Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush warned Wednesday that reports of Iranian drones being positioned in Cuba represent a growing security concern for the United States, arguing that Iran’s expanding influence in the Western Hemisphere poses risks beyond the Middle East.
Speaking at a United Against Nuclear Iran event, where he serves as the organization’s chair, Bush said Iran has long threatened the security interests of both the United States and Israel and has increasingly projected its influence throughout the region.
“Iran has been a consistent threat to the united security interests of our country, certainly of Israel,” Bush said. He added that recent developments indicate the threat now extends beyond Israel and the United States to include countries throughout the Gulf region.
Bush also pointed to reports claiming that approximately 300 Iranian drones are now in Cuba, describing the reports as another reason for concern.
While expressing confidence in America’s defensive capabilities, Bush cautioned that drone warfare has evolved significantly. He noted that drones can operate in coordinated clusters, making them more difficult to defend against, citing similar tactics that have been observed in conflicts across the Middle East.
“I think it’s important to recognize that Iran has consistently been working with Cuba, Venezuela prior to the departure of Maduro from the regime, creating instability in not just in Cuba, but certainly in the region,” Bush said, referring to deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Bush also praised the Trump administration’s approach toward Iran’s military capabilities, saying current efforts have put the world on the path toward greater peace by confronting what he described as Iranian aggression.
The former governor has maintained a hardline position on Cuba for years. Before launching his 2016 Republican presidential campaign, Bush aligned himself with then-Sen. Marco Rubio’s opposition to easing U.S. relations with the Cuban government. Bush has long enjoyed strong support among Florida’s Cuban exile community.
In a 2014 interview with The New York Times, Bush argued against making unilateral concessions to Cuba without receiving meaningful reforms in return.
“The idea of unilaterally changing our policy in return for nothing, I think, would yield nothing,” Bush said at the time.
Joining Bush at Wednesday’s event, Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.) highlighted the capabilities of the reported drones, emphasizing their ability to carry significant explosive payloads over long distances.
“This particular model, there is about over 100 pounds of explosives,” Gimenez said. “That’s a pretty big bang. That’s why they call them kamikaze drones — they crash into their target and they explode.”
Gimenez also told WPLG Local 10 that the drones have a range of roughly 2,500 kilometers, which he said would allow them to reach as far as New York if launched from Cuba.
Concerns about Cuba’s reported drone buildup intensified in May after Axios reported that the island nation had acquired more than 300 military drones. The report, citing classified intelligence, said Cuban officials had discussed potential attacks on the U.S. naval base at Guantánamo Bay or Key West, Florida. One unnamed senior U.S. official described the development as a “growing threat.”
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed the issue during a visit to Guantánamo Bay last month, saying U.S. forces were “postured for any possible contingency.”
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has continued efforts to pressure Cuba’s government by maintaining a blockade intended to restrict energy resources from reaching the island. The resulting power shortages have contributed to widespread blackouts, prompting protests by Cubans against their government.
Following publication of the Axios report, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel warned against any U.S. military intervention, saying such an action would result in a “bloodbath with incalculable consequences.”
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