US, Cuba Military Officials Meet at Guantanamo Bay

The top US general overseeing forces in Latin America met with senior Cuban military officials at the perimeter of the US Naval Station in Guantanamo Bay, according to the US and Cuban militaries.

US General Francis Donovan met with Cuban General Roberto Legra Sotolongo "for a brief exchange on operational security matters," US Southern Command wrote on X.

According to another post on X, Donovan also led a perimeter security assessment of the US facility and discussed the safety of service members and operational readiness.

Cuba's military confirmed the meeting took place and wrote in a Facebook post that both sides agreed to stay in communication.

"Both delegations evaluate positively the meeting where issues related to security around the dividing perimeter of the military enclave were addressed and agreed to maintain communication between both military commands," the statement said.

Recent reports have suggested that, in the event of an American attack, Havana is considering launching drone strikes on the base.

Trump's threats to take over Cuba

Donovan's visit comes as US President Donald Trump increases pressure on Cuban leaders. Trump warned that Cuba "is next" after US military forces captured Venezuela's authoritarian leader, Nicolas Maduro, in a January raid.

In recent months, the Trump administration has imposed an oil blockade, stationed warships in the Caribbean Sea, and indicted a Cuban former President Raul Castro on federal charges.

Despite decades of friction with Cuba's socialist leaders, whom Trump wants to remove from power, the US maintains a base in Guantanamo Bay.

It is located on the southeastern coast of Cuba, 430 miles (700 kilometers) southeast of Miami. It is also notorious as the site of abuse against terror suspects detained after the September 11, 2001, attacks.

Edited by: Sean Sinico