Mike Hammer, head of the United States Mission in Cuba, starred in an unusual scene for diplomacy this Thursday: a game of dominoes in the street with a group of young people in the city of Camagüey.
The moment was shared by the U.S. Embassy on its official X account (formerly Twitter), where a video shows the diplomat approaching the street domino table and accepting the invitation to play. "Do you know how to play dominoes?" "Of course I do!" Hammer replied before giving his partner the first turn.
"A group of young people in Camagüey invited me to my first game of dominoes in Cuba — it was so much fun! Guess who won?" the diplomat wrote in a relaxed tone, reflecting the spirit of closeness that has characterized his recent visits to various regions of the island.
The scene is part of a series of meetings initiated by Hammer since his arrival in Havana, where he has held conversations with both ordinary citizens and activists and opponents, such as José Daniel Ferrer, Guillermo Fariñas, and Martha Beatriz Roque.
I want to talk to anyone who is willing to share their perspectives, Hammer recently stated, emphasizing the importance of listening directly to the Cuban people.
During his visit to Villa Clara, he met with family members of political prisoners, human rights activists, and members of the Damas de Blanco movement, reaffirming the commitment of the United States to fundamental freedoms and condemning political persecution on the island.
His presence in emblematic places such as the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Charity of El Cobre and his willingness to engage in face-to-face dialogue with Cubans from various sectors has sparked interest —and also discomfort— from the Cuban regime, which has accused him of interference in internal affairs.
The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, accused Hammer of behaving like "an activist encouraging Cubans to act against their country", justifying repressive measures as a defense against a "hostile foreign power.”
The informal gesture of sitting down to play dominoes in the street reinforces his message of direct connection with the Cuban people and seeks to establish a direct dialogue with Cuban civil society.
While political tensions persist, Hammer advocates for approachable, symbolic, and grassroots diplomacy. His visit to Camagüey leaves an image that transcends headlines: that of a foreign diplomat sharing games and laughter in a Cuban neighborhood.
Domino in Camagüey: A New "Ping Pong Diplomacy" the Cuban Way
Mike Hammer's gesture of sitting down to play dominoes with young people in the streets of Camagüey can be interpreted as a Cuban and contemporary version of the famous "ping pong diplomacy," employed by the United States and China in the 1970s as a catalyst for rapprochement between two ideologically opposed powers.
The "ping pong diplomacy" began in 1971 when an unexpected exchange between table tennis players from the U.S. and China paved the way for the historic visit of Richard Nixon to Beijing.
That maneuver was a soft, informal gesture, laden with symbolism, that broke years of isolation and mutual distrust, demonstrating that cultural or sporting gestures can play a strategic role in diplomatic thawing.
In that same spirit, Hammer, while sharing a game of dominoes —an iconic game in Cuban culture— with young people from Camagüey, conveys a message that transcends official words: the United States seeks to connect with the Cuban people through everyday moments, through humanity. It’s not just about formal meetings or speeches from embassies, but about sitting on a corner, looking each other in the eye, and sharing a game and a conversation.
Unlike the context of the 1970s, Hammer operates amid a bilateral relationship characterized by tension, official surveillance, and the open rejection of the Cuban government. However, much like in the case of ping pong, dominoes become an unconventional diplomatic tool aimed at opening avenues for understanding and direct communication.
In summary, the gesture of the American diplomat can be seen as a bet on a "domino diplomacy": an attempt to build bridges through cultural respect, social closeness, and political empathy—a strategy that exacerbates the State Security concerns with this diplomat who has chosen to break the traditional molds of the State Department's approach to relations with the Cuban regime.
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