US general meets Cuban military officials at edge of Guantanamo Bay

The highest-ranking U.S. general overseeing forces in Latin America held a rare meeting with senior Cuban military officials on Friday. U.S. Southern Command Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan met with Cuban Army Corps General Roberto Legrá Sotolongo, first deputy minister of the Chief of the General Staff, and other leaders at the perimeter of the U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.

The discussion focused on operational security matters, including force protection, the safety of service members and their families, and overall operational readiness of the base. General Donovan also led a security assessment of the naval base's perimeter. This meeting marks the first known encounter of its kind by a head of Southern Command in recent memory.

The gathering takes place against a backdrop of increasing concern in Cuba over a possible U.S. military attack on the Communist-run island. The U.S. military confirmed the meeting via its X account, corroborating a Reuters report. The Cuban Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This diplomatic engagement follows a recent visit by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Havana earlier in May. President Donald Trump has frequently cited Cuba as a foreign policy priority, particularly as his administration has intensified pressure on the island. This includes recent actions such as the formal indictment of former President Raúl Castro on murder charges related to the 1996 downing of a civilian aircraft.

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Donovan also led a perimeter security assessment of the naval base and discussed force protection, safety of service members and their families, and operational readiness with base officials.