Bengal Insight

Tag: United States

  • ‘Possibly [be] needed in 90-120 days’: Why is the US checking Cuba readiness?

    ‘Possibly [be] needed in 90-120 days’: Why is the US checking Cuba readiness?

    The United States is assessing whether key Army Reserve units could be made available for missions under US Southern Command within the next four months.

    The message itself does not mention Cuba. Multiple US officials, however, told CBS that the request is part of continued military planning focused on the island.

    There is no indication that any unit has been ordered to deploy. The document also does not say how many troops could be involved, where they might go, or what operation they would support.

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    Military preparedness

    The Army Reserve is checking the possible availability of six types of formations. They include logistics and sustainment units, an engineer battalion, a medical brigade, a forward surgical and resuscitative detachment, and a military police brigade.

    Their roles are largely about keeping a military operation supplied, treating casualties, providing engineering support, and maintaining security.

    The message says these units could be “possibly [be] needed in 90-120 days.” Commands were asked to report their availability to Army Reserve headquarters by September 25.

    A diplomatic squeeze

    From logistics and engineers to medics and military police, the readiness check covers the support structure needed for a possible military mission | X (@TheCalvinCooli1)
    From logistics and engineers to medics and military police, the readiness check covers the support structure needed for a possible military mission | X (@TheCalvinCooli1)

    The timing matters because Washington and Havana have been under growing pressure for months. The Trump administration has increased economic pressure on Cuba and has pushed for political changes on the island.

    Earlier this year, US forces carried out reconnaissance operations around Cuba’s seabed and maritime approaches.

    Some US airpower components were also placed on heightened readiness, and personnel were prepared for possible deployment, although those plans did not move forward.

    At the same time, US Southern Command has refused to discuss specific operational movements, citing security concerns.

    A spokesperson said the command “continuously coordinates with the Joint Force” to assess military requirements across its area.

    Door ajar

    Army Reserve units are being assessed for possible logistical, medical, and security support as the Trump administration weighs military options involving Cuba | X (@RealTruth)
    Army Reserve units are being assessed for possible logistical, medical, and security support as the Trump administration weighs military options involving Cuba | X (@RealTruth)

    There is also an important second signal from Washington. On September 26, President Donald Trump said he did not believe the US would need military force and that “Cuba and we will make a deal.”

    Trump made the remarks at the White House after months of escalating pressure on Havana.

    Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, speaking at the United Nations, said Cuba remained open to dialogue and to business relations with US companies while condemning the US trade embargo.

    The latest Army Reserve message therefore points to contingency planning, not a confirmed military operation.

    What happens next will depend on how the broader US-Cuba confrontation develops and whether the two sides move towards an agreement.

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  • Iran offers to reopen Strait of Hormuz in 7 days if US eases pressure

    Iran offers to reopen Strait of Hormuz in 7 days if US eases pressure

    Iran has offered to reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States eases military pressure and lifts its blockade on Iranian ports, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Tuesday.

    The proposal came as US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, creating a fresh opening for diplomacy amid months of conflict.

    Iranian officials said Tehran had already sent its latest proposal to Washington through mediators on September 16.

    There are no plans for a direct meeting between Trump and Pezeshkian, but Iran’s delegation in New York has been given authority to pursue negotiations.

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    A small stretch of water

    The Strait of Hormuz is at the center of the dispute because it is one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints.

    The narrow waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and provides a major route for oil and liquefied natural gas shipments from the Gulf states.

    Before the war, about a fifth of global oil and gas shipments passed through the strait. Its disruption has therefore had consequences well beyond Iran and the United States, affecting Gulf producers, shipping companies, and energy markets.

    The proposal from Tehran is conditional. Iran says it would restore maritime traffic after Washington takes initial steps to reduce military pressure and lift the blockade on Iranian ports.

    A little diplomacy

    Tehran is also trying to connect the Hormuz issue with a broader diplomatic process. The senior Iranian official said the US must formally show that it wants to resolve the dispute through diplomacy and agree on a timetable for negotiations.

    “The UN General Assembly is a golden opportunity for the US to return to diplomacy,” the official said.

    Washington, meanwhile, has signalled that dialogue remains possible, though its position on Iran’s nuclear program remains central.

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US was open to speaking with Iranian representatives, particularly if discussions could lead to a positive outcome. Trump separately said the two sides had been communicating and that Washington would not accept Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon.

    Plenty of caution

    The difficulty is that both sides are still maintaining hard positions. Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said Tehran would not surrender, while Iranian military officials have warned of a stronger response if the US launches fresh attacks.

    At the same time, Gulf states are pressing for the restoration of shipping through Hormuz while managing their own security concerns.

    A Qatari proposal for a regional security framework involving Iran and the Arab Gulf states was also under discussion.

    The key question is whether the conditional offer on Hormuz can become the starting point for wider negotiations, or whether military pressure and conflicting demands will keep diplomacy stalled.

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