"The deliberate use of coercive or subversive instruments of power by, or on behalf of, a state to achieve its political or security goals at the expense of others, in ways that exceed or exploit gaps in international norms but are intended to remain below the perceived threshold for direct armed conflict. Gray zone campaigns are commonly characterized by a sustained, multi-domain approach, indirect methods, and deliberate ambiguity about their aims and sponsorship."
"Since 1959, the U.S. and Cuban relationship has been defined by gray zone operations that have occasionally broken out into open confrontation. At the same time, Cuba has been the proxy area for US adversaries to spy on the US homeland and endanger US security. Due to a convergence of events, Cuba and the US are poised for a monumental change in the relationship that could move from gray zone activities to a more positive transactional diplomatic relationship, but there is a long way to go before we get there and the US must stay focused on its goal of increased security for the homeland."
"When Fidel Castro came to power in 1959, he disrupted the geopolitical landscape with promises of wealth, education, and medical care for all. Cuba supported revolutions across the globe. It was a leader in the nonaligned movement. It exported doctors and supported medical education from countries across Latin America and Africa and then used those Cuban educated doctors to provide pro-communist propaganda to local populations along with their medicine. These were classic, gray zone activities."
Since 1959, U.S.-Cuba relations have involved gray zone operations that sometimes escalated into open confrontation. Cuba has also served as a proxy space for U.S. adversaries to conduct intelligence activities against the U.S. homeland and threaten U.S. security. A convergence of events could enable a major change, moving from gray zone activity toward a more positive transactional diplomatic relationship. Gray zone activity is defined as deliberate coercive or subversive use of power that exploits gaps in international norms while staying below the threshold for direct armed conflict. Cuba’s approach has included sustained multi-domain methods, indirect tactics, and ambiguity about aims and sponsorship, including exporting medical education paired with pro-communist propaganda.
#us-cuba-relations #gray-zone-operations #homeland-security #intelligence-and-espionage #cold-war-and-geopolitics
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