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The Army Reserve is checking whether surgical teams, military police and engineers could be available for a potential Cuba operation within four months, according to an internal message obtained by CBS News.
The request comes as President Donald Trump turns up the pressure on Havana, telling the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday that Cuba’s communist government “will fall” and “freedom will be coming.”
The Cuban delegation walked out during his remarks. Trump also said Secretary of State Marco Rubio was “deep into negotiations” with Havana.
Behind the scenes, Army Reserve headquarters last week asked its commands whether six types of units could be made available to U.S. Southern Command, which oversees American forces in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The document does not name Cuba. Multiple U.S. officials told CBS News, however, that the planning centers on the communist island.
The units would “possibly [be] needed in 90-120 days,” the memo states, opening a potential deployment window around Christmas. Commands were given until Friday to respond.
There is no indication that any units have received deployment orders. The message also does not identify a troop count, destination or specific operation.
The request covers medical teams to treat wounded troops and support units needed to keep an operation running.