Top U.S. General Holds Rare Meeting with Cuban Military

A top U.S. general held a rare meeting with Cuban military officials at the Guantanamo Bay naval base, signaling a potentially delicate diplomatic moment. U.S. Southern Command chief General Francis Donovan met with Cuban General Roberto Legrá Sotolongo to discuss operational security.

The meeting, described by Reuters as the first of its kind in recent memory for a SOUTHCOM chief, takes place as Cuba expresses growing concern over possible U.S. military aggression. This comes after a visit by the head of U.S. intelligence to Havana in May and follows the Trump administration's increased pressure on the communist-led island.

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The meeting took place at the U.S. naval base Guantanamo Bay in Cuba.

Recent actions by the U.S. include formal charges against former Cuban President Raul Castro for alleged involvement in the 1996 shootdown of civilian aircraft. The U.S. has adopted a more assertive role in Latin America under President Trump, exemplified by a special forces operation in Venezuela that led to the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose parents were Cuban immigrants, has also raised concerns in Cuba with statements characterizing the island as a national security risk to the United States. Rubio is considered a potential Republican presidential candidate in 2028.

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U.S. General Francis Donovan discussed operational security with the Cuban delegation, which included Cuban General Roberto Legrá Sotolongo.