China’s Eavesdropping Facilities in Cuba: New Developments
A recent report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies indicates that at least one of the four eavesdropping facilities in Cuba, potentially utilized by China for espionage against the United States, seems to be operational. This finding adds to ongoing concerns regarding the communist regime’s capabilities in gathering intelligence.
For the past two years, CSIS has highlighted the existence of these facilities across Cuba, which are likely being leveraged by China to monitor signals and gather intelligence about U.S. activities. In 2024, the think tank noted that the base in Bejucal, located in Mayabeque state, had been described as “active” for some time, citing unverified reports from Cuban exiles. This base is thought to house the Cuban Military Intelligence Service’s Radio-Electronic Brigade.
A report published on Thursday marked significant developments at the Bejucal site occurring between April 2025 and May 2026. New satellite images reveal that construction on the Large Circular Antenna Array (CDAA) has been finalized. Images first shared in 2025 demonstrated initial groundwork, which laid cables connecting the antenna field to the central control facility situated on the northeastern edge of the base.
CSIS expressed concerns, stating that construction seems to be finished, and the facility is poised to commence operations soon. The report suggested that this array, featuring 32 antennas (19 outer, 13 inner), is likely more advanced than any previously noted Cuban CDAA. This technology is primarily utilized for high-frequency direction finding, which enables the interception and localization of incoming radio signals across various frequencies.
Because of its placement in northwestern Cuba, the Bejucal facility could enhance the Cuban regime’s, or possibly its foreign allies’, ability to oversee critical U.S. activities in the Caribbean and along the southeastern coast. The potential significance of surveilling American movements has grown as naval and air operations have intensified in the region, a point emphasized during Donald Trump’s presidency.
While concrete evidence of Chinese activity at Bejucal remains elusive, CSIS asserted that it likely comprises one of three bases identified as having Chinese affiliations. In June 2023, the Biden administration confirmed the existence of a Chinese spy installation in Cuba that had reportedly been established since at least 2019, although indications suggested that it may have existed even earlier before receiving upgrades in that year.
In discussions within Congress, the issue of China’s use of Cuba’s SIGINT facility for espionage against the U.S. was raised in May 2025, coinciding with CSIS’s previous warnings about the Bejucal base’s construction and updates.
Another potential CDAA site, known as El Salao, was initially flagged by CSIS in 2024. The think tank indicated that this facility, situated east of Santiago de Cuba, had been under development since 2021, with significant foundational work completed by 2024. However, recent findings revealed that progress had nearly stalled, as satellite images from May 2026 displayed minimal advancement, with grass reclaiming the area designated for the CDAA. Unlike the Bejucal site, this facility is currently not deemed operational.
The CSIS report noted that, while there have been little changes since May 2026, the slow development indicates the site has not been entirely abandoned. Nonetheless, it’s uncertain whether it will be completed as intended or repurposed. If built as originally planned, this facility would complement the antenna array at Bejucal, extending operational range into the southeastern Caribbean. Together, they may significantly enhance Cuba’s capacity to triangulate signals being transmitted across Central America and the Western Atlantic.
The think tank cautioned that the facility’s development could become a pivotal issue in President Trump’s ongoing pressure against the Castro regime, suggesting that the conditions at the site might play a crucial role in future negotiations between Washington and Havana regarding Cuba’s direction.
