Manganese

A crew of an Ore trawler on the continental of the US is required to remain in port because a Chinese survey ship has ventured well inside the US continental shelf boundaries. T was recording and reporting the gulf Coast he ship was boarded and the crew arrested. The ship was found to be  an electronic intelligence gathering vessel and eavesdropping on radar, guidance, command and control, signals from Mac Dill and Hurlburt Field A F bases.
The c rew reported that Cuba had 300+ drones of Soviet and Iranian manufacture. And they had at one time some nuclear weapons. This piqued the DOD and the Presidents interest right away. After a heated Cabinet meeting the investigation was put in the hands of the DOD and the technical part in the hands of ONI. Coast Guard Admiral Mallory was appointed as the head of Joint Task Force, Gulf. Mallory approached the task on two fronts, food and medicine for the people and farm equipment and supplies for the economy.
He would try to soften the people with kindness and by pass the regime where possible. The people would always know the help came from the US. Senator Marco Rubio was Special THeatre  liason with the President.