Andrew Harding: Cuba Power Shift, Iran Strategy Risks, and the Western Hemisphere Chess Match with China and Russia

Andrew Harding of the Heritage Foundation breaks down the national security stakes behind potential U.S. policy shifts toward Cuba, focusing on its strategic proximity to Florida, historical use as a staging ground for adversarial influence, and its continued ties to Russia and China. He explains how Cuba remains a geopolitical foothold for intelligence activity and how changes in leadership or policy could significantly alter the balance of power in the Western Hemisphere. The conversation expands into broader regional strategy, including coordinated pressure on Venezuela and the effort to limit Chinese influence through infrastructure and port control across the Americas. Harding also addresses Iran policy, emphasizing the shared U.S. and regional objective of preventing a nuclear-armed Iran, while noting that Gulf allies such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE now align more closely with Washington due to Tehran’s use of proxy forces and regional destabilization. He frames the current moment as a strategic “chessboard” where U.S. actions are increasingly interconnected across multiple theaters rather than isolated conflicts. Hashtags: #NationalSecurity #Cuba #Iran #Geopolitics #China #Russia #MiddleEast #HeritageFoundation #ForeignPolicy #Defense