The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has released new satellite images of Cuba, sparking concerns about the country’s potential upgrade of its intelligence capabilities at four military bases. These developments, which could be linked to China, have raised anxieties about the possibility of Chinese espionage directed at the United States.
The report, published by the Washington-based CSIS on Tuesday, reveals recent construction activities at three sites near Havana, along with ongoing work at a previously undisclosed location situated not far from the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay. These satellite images, captured between March and April, indicate significant upgrades in satellite monitoring equipment at sites like Bejucal and Calabazar, particularly noteworthy given Cuba’s lack of its own satellites or space program.
Bejucal, historically known for its role in storing nuclear weapons for the Soviet Union during the 1962 Cuban missile crisis, is the largest site among those identified. It is suspected of being used for electronic communications monitoring for China. Recent satellite imagery reveals extensive updates at Bejucal, including the construction of new enclosures for electronic antennas. Sites near Havana, namely Wajay and Calabazar, have also seen expansion, with analysts noting the installation of antennas, radar dishes, and other equipment potentially employed for satellite monitoring.
The fourth site, El Salao, located near Guantanamo Bay, appears to be under construction. Its presence and ongoing development have raised security concerns for the United States, as per the report. According to CSIS analysts, satellite imagery suggests progress on an antenna array at El Salao, capable of tracking signals over vast distances, up to 15,000 kilometers.
While the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment on the CSIS report, previous reports have suggested China’s financial investments in Cuban facilities aimed at enhancing intelligence capabilities. In response, Pentagon press secretary Major General Pat Ryder assured that the US remains vigilant, stating, “We’re confident that we can continue to meet our security commitments.”
China has dismissed the CSIS findings, with the Chinese Embassy in Washington calling them baseless accusations. Cuban officials similarly refuted the claims, dismissing them as unfounded. “The U.S. side has repeatedly hyped-up China’s establishment of spy bases or conducting surveillance activities in Cuba,” Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, told VOA in an email. “The U.S. should immediately stop its malicious smearing of China,” Liu said, adding, “The U.S. is no doubt the leading power in terms of eavesdropping and does not even spare its Allies [sic].”
Cuba has also downplayed the report, calling it merely a write-up in The Wall Street Journal. “Without citing a verifiable source or showing evidence, it seeks to scare the public with legends about Chinese military bases that do not exist and no one has seen,” according to a post by Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio on the X social media platform.
The CSIS report speculates that these monitoring stations could provide China with crucial data on US military activities, including exercises, missile tests, and satellite communications over sensitive military sites. The report raises significant concerns about the potential impact of these upgrades on US national security and highlights the increasing tension between the US and China in the region.
