Introduction
How is the Military in Cuba and how does it work to maintain Sucity and fight terrorism? In terms of Military and security forces, we have the Revolutionary Armed Forces (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias, FAR): Ground Troops (Tropas Terrestres), Revolutionary Navy (Marina de Guerra Revolucionaria, MGR), Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Forces (Defensas Anti-Aereas y Fuerza Aerea Revolucionaria, DAAFAR)
Paramilitary forces under the FAR: Youth Labor Army (Ejercito Juvenil del Trabajo, EJT), Territorial Militia Troops (Milicia de Tropas de Territoriales, MTT), Defense and Production Brigades (Brigadas de Producción y Defensa, BPD), Civil Defense Organization (Defensa Civil de Cuba)
Ministry of Interior: National Revolutionary Police (Policía Nacional Revolucionaria, PNR), Directorate of Border Guard Troops (Dirección de Tropas de Guardia Fronteriza, TGF), Department of State Security (Departamento de Seguridad del Estado, DSE) (2025).
Paramilitary forces under the FAR: Youth Labor Army (Ejercito Juvenil del Trabajo, EJT), Territorial Militia Troops (Milicia de Tropas de Territoriales, MTT), Defense and Production Brigades (Brigadas de Producción y Defensa, BPD), Civil Defense Organization (Defensa Civil de Cuba)
Ministry of Interior: National Revolutionary Police (Policía Nacional Revolucionaria, PNR), Directorate of Border Guard Troops (Dirección de Tropas de Guardia Fronteriza, TGF), Department of State Security (Departamento de Seguridad del Estado, DSE) (2025).
In Cuba, the Cuban military is largely focused on protecting territorial integrity and the state, and perceives the US as its primary threat; the military is a central pillar of the Cuban regime and viewed as the guardian of the Cuban revolution; it has a large role in the country’s politics and economy; many senior government posts are held by military officers, and the FAR reportedly has interests in agriculture, banking and finance, construction, import/export, ports, industry, real estate, retail, shipping, transportation, and tourism (2024)
Security and military information of Cuba
| Military and security service personnel strengths | limited available information; estimated 50,000 active personnel (2024) |
|---|---|
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the military's inventory is comprised of Russian and Soviet-era equipment (2024) |
| Military service age and obligation | 17-28 years of age for compulsory (men) and voluntary (men and women) military service; conscripts serve for 18-24 months (2025). |
| Military deployments | . |
| Military expenditures | |
| Military Expenditures 2020 | 4.2% of GDP (2020 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2019 | 3.2% of GDP (2019 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2018 | 2.9% of GDP (2018 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2017 | 2.9% of GDP (2017 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2016 | 3.1% of GDP (2016 est.) |
All Important Facts about Cuba
Want to know more about Cuba? Check all different factbooks for Cuba below.
