The top US commander in Latin America held discussions with Cuban military leaders on Friday. This meeting took place near the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. It is the latest visit by a US official as President Donald Trump continues to pressure Cuban leaders.
Trump stated that Cuba is “next” following the US military’s capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro during an operation in January. In recent months, Trump’s administration imposed an oil embargo, maintained warships in the Caribbean, and filed federal charges against a former Cuban president.
Trump’s senior advisers, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, have met with Cuban officials. They explored potential improvements in relations. However, these talks left the US side dissatisfied, leading to more sanctions on Cuba.
On Friday, US General Francis L. Donovan met with Cuban military officials. He assessed the security of the naval base and discussed “military and family safety and operational readiness” with base officials, according to reports from the US Southern Command’s post on X.
Despite decades of tensions with Cuba’s socialist leaders, the US still maintains the Guantanamo Bay base. Trump seeks to remove them from power. The US military currently has a few Navy vessels in the Caribbean, a smaller force compared to that during the operation against Maduro.
The Pentagon announced on Friday that a new unit of 1,300 sailors and Marines will replace the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, which was deployed in the region last year.
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