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The Ministry of Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) of Cuba confirmed this Friday that, by mutual agreement, a meeting took place on May 29 between the head of the U.S. Southern Command, General Francis L. Donovan, and the First Deputy Minister and Chief of the General Staff of the FAR, Army Corps General Roberto Legrá Sotolongo.
The meeting took place at the dividing perimeter of the Guantánamo Naval Base and was described by both delegations as positive. The MINFAR released an official statement on its social media accompanied by a photograph featuring five military personnel—four Cubans and one American—posing outdoors.
According to the statement from MINFAR, "both delegations view positively the meeting in which topics related to security around the boundary of the military enclave were discussed and agreed to maintain communication between both military commands."
For its part, Southern Command described the meeting as "a brief exchange on operational security issues" and noted that Donovan conducted a comprehensive assessment of the base's perimeter security posture during his visit, personally inspecting all its aspects.
General Donovan also discussed with installation officials issues related to force protection, operational readiness, and security measures for the personnel and their families.
The direct contact between the head of Southern Command and the second-in-command of the FAR in the Guantánamo area is regarded as a recent unprecedented event of notable geopolitical significance, given that formal meetings between high-ranking officials of both countries are extremely rare.
The meeting takes place at a time of maximum tension between Washington and Havana. Since January 2026, the Trump administration has imposed more than 240 new sanctions against Cuba, and on May 20, the U.S. deployed the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier in the Caribbean amidst rising tensions.
On May 21, Donovan had already met with the Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon, and in March 2026, he testified before Congress that Southern Command could establish a camp in Guantanamo in light of a potential mass exodus from Cuba.
Reports indicate that Cuba has acquired more than 300 military drones since 2023, with regime officials allegedly discussing possible uses against the Guantanamo Naval Base, U.S. vessels, and the city of Key West, which has raised alarms in Washington. Experts have also warned about the increase in Russian and Chinese espionage activities in Cuba, including facilities located about 70 miles from Guantanamo.
Legrá Sotolongo, the Cuban interlocutor at the meeting, is one of the most powerful military figures in the regime. He was promoted to the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of Cuba in December 2025 and has historical ties to the province of Guantánamo, having been born in Baracoa in 1955.
Southern Command described the Guantanamo Naval Base as "a vital operational and logistical center that supports the U.S. military's efforts to counter threats undermining security, stability, and democracy in the hemisphere."
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