Hurricane Melissa Exposes Regional Weaknesses While Threatening America’s Security Interests

As Hurricane Melissa lashes eastern Cuba with Category 4 ferocity following historic damage in Jamaica, the crisis unfolding in America’s southern neighborhood demands sober scrutiny. This is not merely a natural disaster story; it is a stark reminder of how fragile our neighbors’ infrastructures undermine regional stability and pose direct challenges to U.S. national interests. Why Should Americans Care About a Storm in Cuba and Jamaica? More than 700,000 Cubans have been evacuated as authorities brace for catastrophic flooding, landslides, and destructive winds that threaten to magnify the island’s existing economic collapse—marked by persistent blackouts, food shortages, and fuel scarcity....