SOUTHCOM Chief Holds Rare Guantanamo Talks With Cuban General as Trump Floats Military Action
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · May 30
SOUTHCOM Chief Holds Rare Guantanamo Talks With Cuban General as Trump Floats Military Action
6 articles · Updated · CBS New York · May 30
Gen. Francis Donovan, who leads U.S. Southern Command, held a brief fence-line exchange with Cuban Gen. Roberto Legrá Sotolongo near Guantanamo Bay on operational security, in a rare senior-level contact.
The talks came as President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Havana, threatening tariffs on countries exporting oil to Cuba and publicly saying he is interested in "taking Cuba in some form."
Cuba's defense ministry called the meeting positive and said both sides discussed issues of mutual interest, even as Havana maintains the U.S. naval base is illegal and warns any assault would cause a bloodbath.
The contact follows other recent U.S. visits to Havana and comes after U.S. intelligence reviewed possible Cuban responses to military action, with concerns including Cuba's attack drones and alleged Chinese and Russian spy facilities.
Is the rare US-Cuba military meeting a prelude to war or a secret de-escalation channel?
With a US blockade and warships nearby, what forced America's top general to meet his Cuban rival?