US Aircraft Carrier Arrives in Caribbean, Heightening US-Cuba Tensions

(CNA Washington, 20th, Comprehensive Foreign Report) The US aircraft carrier USS Nimitz and its strike group arrived in the Caribbean Sea this week. This comes at a time of high tension between the United States and Cuba, and as US President Trump has threatened to invade Cuba. The Hill reported that the US Southern Command, which oversees military operations in the Caribbean and Latin America, announced today that the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier has entered the Caribbean Sea. Its carrier air wing consists of F/A-18E Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, and C-2A Greyhounds. The accompanying flotilla includes the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Gridley and the Henry J. Kaiser-class fleet replenishment oiler USNS Patuxent. The US Southern Command stated on the social media platform X: "The USS Nimitz has demonstrated its combat capabilities around the globe, undertaking missions to maintain stability and defend democracy from the Taiwan Strait to the Arabian Gulf." After the US Department of Justice indicted former Cuban President Raul Castro for murder, Trump told the media today that the government is closely "watching" the situation in Cuba. This charge, among others, stems from a 1996 incident where two civilian aircraft were shot down over international waters, resulting in four deaths. Trump stated: "This is very important. This is a significant moment for many people, not just Cuban Americans, but also those from Cuba who wish to return to visit their families." The indictment was announced on Cuban Independence Day. Earlier that day, Cuban-American Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a rare congratulatory message to the Cuban people in Spanish. In his statement, he expressed support for the US fuel blockade against Cuba and attributed the ongoing power outage crisis in Cuba to the current communist regime. CIA Director John Ratcliffe personally visited Cuba last week to meet with local officials. During the meeting, he emphasized that the window for negotiations between the two sides will not remain open indefinitely. (Translator: Chen Yu-ting) 115052