Hegseth to Visit Guantanamo as US Increases Pressure on Cuba
The trip, disclosed in a single-sentence Pentagon statement, comes as the United States intensifies pressure on Cuba through sanctions and a punishing oil blockade.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is heading to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for what the Pentagon described as an effort to “engage with troops,” placing fresh attention on a US base that sits at the center of one of Washington’s most fraught relationships.
The trip, disclosed in a single-sentence Pentagon statement, comes as the United States intensifies pressure on Cuba through sanctions and a punishing oil blockade.
- Advertisement -
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly indicated he wants to bring down Cuba’s communist government, tying that goal to the strong backing of Cuban-Americans that helped propel him back to the White House.
Beyond Guantanamo, the Pentagon said Mr Hegseth will also make a stop in Tampa, Florida, home to US Central Command (CENTCOM).
Guantanamo Bay is also where those detained after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks are held
Late last month, the senior US general responsible for operations in Latin America traveled to Guantanamo and met with Cuban military leaders.
The US military said then that General Francis Donovan’s meeting amounted to “a brief exchange on operational security matters”.
“Gen Donovan also led a perimeter security assessment of the naval base and discussed force protection, safety of service members and their families and operational readiness with base officials,” US Southern Command said.
Two weeks before that, CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Havana for talks with Cuban officials.
Guantanamo Bay, 700 kilometres southeast of Miami on Cuba’s southeastern coast, remains infamous as the site of abuse involving prisoners held after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks.
Mr Trump has also moved to use the base as a holding centre for migrant deportations.
Last month, former Cuban president Raúl Castro was charged in the United States with murder.
The 94-year-old faces one count of conspiracy to kill US nationals, four counts of murder and two counts of destruction of aircraft, according to the documents.
