A recent report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) has unveiled previously unconfirmed information about Chinese eavesdropping facilities in Cuba, highlighting potential espionage activities targeting the United States. The think tank’s analysis, derived from satellite imagery and open-source data, indicates that these facilities could play a critical role in monitoring sensitive communications and activities in the region. Cuba’s four known sites—Bejucal, El Salao, Wajay, and Calabazar—have undergone significant upgrades, suggesting that despite the island’s worsening economic conditions, its partnership with China is strengthening.
CSIS’s earlier report in July identified the four bases as key in China’s signal intelligence (SIGINT) collection efforts in Cuba. Notably, they have received enhancements in their infrastructure and capabilities over recent years. The think tank emphasizes the need for vigilant monitoring by the United States and its regional partners, recommending the hardening of sensitive communications and calls for greater transparency to mitigate risks of miscalculation. This insight points to a broader scenario where Cuba is becoming an increasingly valuable ally for China in its efforts to enhance its intelligence-gathering capabilities against the U.S.
The Bejucal facility, the most well-documented of the four, is suspected to house underground military intelligence operations based on its satellite imagery, which indicates multiple entrances and a variety of antennas. The installation’s capabilities may allow it to not only intercept satellite communications but also to collect pertinent data related to rocket launches from major Florida spaceports. Given the strategic importance of this information, the base is seen as a critical node in China’s efforts to gain an edge in space technology, particularly concerning developments in U.S. launch systems like SpaceX’s Falcon rockets.
El Wajay, often overshadowed by Bejucal, has expanded significantly over two decades, evolving from a modest site into a sophisticated complex. With a range of antennas and operational facilities, it is believed to be focused on terrestrial signal interception, although it lacks the satellite communications dish antennas seen at Bejucal. The facility’s growing capability enhances its role in regional intelligence gathering, showcasing how the Cuban military continues to adapt and grow in its cooperation with Chinese military objectives despite ongoing domestic economic challenges.
The Calabazar base, while slightly less central to current narratives about U.S.-China relations in Cuba, is also undergoing important transformations. Historically serving as a communications site, it has been upgraded with a larger solar power array and a diverse assortment of antennas aimed at gathering various types of intelligence, likely targeting satellite communications too. Interestingly, unlike other sites, Calabazar hasn’t been explicitly linked to Chinese military operations in public records, although reports suggest it is integrally involved in Cuba’s overall intelligence efforts.
In response to these developments, U.S. officials have affirmed their commitment to monitoring the escalating Chinese military presence in Cuba. A State Department spokesperson highlighted ongoing diplomatic efforts to counteract China’s growing influence, ensuring the protection of U.S. interests in the region. With the acknowledgment that surveillance and intelligence collection are being closely watched, it remains evident that the geopolitical dynamics surrounding Cuba will continue to evolve, particularly in the context of U.S.-China rivalries. The assertion that the U.S. will disrupt China’s attempts to solidify military operations in Cuba underscores the urgency of the situation and the strategic importance of these eavesdropping facilities in the ongoing global power struggle.