Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez denounced the presence of US "naval and air military forces" in the southern Caribbean, rejecting Washington's claim that the deployment was part of an anti-drug operation.

In a statement made on Monday, Rodriguez accused US military movements in the Caribbean of serving what he called the "corrupt agenda" of Secretary of State Marco Rubio while also demanding that the region be recognized and respected as a "zone of peace."

“We denounce the presence of US naval and air forces in the southern Caribbean which, under false pretexts, respond to the corrupt agenda of the Secretary of State. Latin America and the Caribbean must be respected as a Peace Zone," the Cuban Foreign Minister stated.

US deploys military in the Caribbean

Last week, CNN reported that the United States has started deploying 4,000 troops, primarily Marines, in Latin American and Caribbean waters, claiming the operation is aimed at combating drug cartels.

The surveillance mission involves a nuclear submarine, P-8 Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, multiple destroyers, and a missile-equipped warship.

Meanwhile, months earlier, a letter from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had surfaced, expanding the interpretation of the US military's traditional mandate to encompass additional missions.

Hegseth stated that the military's role involves protecting the homeland, a duty that extends to "sealing the borders, repelling all forms of invasion, including mass immigration, drug trafficking, human smuggling and other criminal activities."

However, in 2014, the leaders of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) adopted a declaration designating the region as a "Zone of Peace," affirming their commitment to maintaining peace and cooperation in the area.