US and Cuban Military Officials Held Rare Talks Near Guantanamo Bay

The head of US Southern Command held a rare meeting with senior Cuban military officials near the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay on Friday, marking one of the highest-level military contacts between Washington and Havana in recent years amid escalating tensions between the two countries.

General Francis L. Donovan met a Cuban delegation led by Roberto Legrá Sotolongo , Cuba’s First Deputy Minister and Chief of the General Staff. The discussions focused on operational security , perimeter safety, force protection and military readiness around the Guantanamo Bay naval base, according to US Southern Command. Cuba’s armed forces later described the talks as productive and confirmed that both sides agreed to maintain communication on security matters.

The meeting comes as President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Cuba’s communist government. Trump recently warned that Cuba “is next” after US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a controversial operation earlier this year. Since then, Washington has imposed an oil blockade , expanded sanctions and increased military deployments across the Caribbean.

Senior US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, have also engaged Cuban counterparts in recent months, though reports suggest the talks produced little progress and were followed by additional sanctions.

The Pentagon announced that about 1,300 sailors and Marines will replace the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit currently operating in the region. Analysts say the rare military-to-military contact reflects efforts to prevent misunderstandings as Havana increasingly voices concerns about a potential US military threat while regional tensions continue to rise.