The United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, visited the Guantanamo Naval Base this Wednesday and addressed training Navy troops with a direct message about Cuba: the Department of War will be ready to act regardless of what happens.
«What happens with the future of Cuba is in the hands of the President of the United States and the leadership of Cuba. Whatever happens, the Department of War will be prepared and positioned for any possible contingency,» declared Hegseth before the troops assembled at the base.
Hegseth also emphasized the strategic value of the facility: "It is an honor to be here at Guantánamo Bay. I was here 20 years ago, serving as a soldier in the detention mission. This was then and is today: a very important and strategic American ground."
The official added that the visit aimed to verify that the base is "as strong as possible" and that the world understands that American power, "whether it's 9,000 miles or 90 miles from our shores, is the strongest in the world and is ready to go on the offensive or defensive at any moment to defend our interests."
After the visit, Hegseth was scheduled to travel to Tampa, Florida, to meet with personnel from Central Command (CENTCOM).
The visit comes at a time of escalating tensions between Washington and Havana. In May, leaks to media outlets such as Politico and Axios revealed that the Southern Command developed military contingency plans for Cuba, which range from air strikes to a potential ground invasion, although no definitive decision has been made.
Axios also reported that Cuba may have acquired over 300 military drones since 2023 with support from Russia and Iran, with potential uses against the Guantánamo base itself, U.S. vessels, and targets in Florida such as Key West.
The U.S. responded with a military reinforcement in the Caribbean that included the deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, over 1,300 marines under Operation Southern Spear, and surveillance flights using P-8A Poseidon, RC-135V Rivet Joint, and MQ-4C Triton aircraft.
On May 30, the head of the U.S. Southern Command met with high-ranking officials of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) in Guantánamo, in a meeting that the Cuban regime described as "positive", although the rhetorical tension did not diminish.
On June 7, Díaz-Canel stated that Washington is considering three possible scenarios regarding Cuba and warned that any U.S. military action could lead to a "bloodbath."
It is not the first time that Hegseth has set foot in Guantánamo since taking office. In February 2025, he visited the base to supervise migrant detention facilities as part of Trump’s deportation policy, when a C-130 aircraft arrived with nine migrants classified as "high-threat illegal aliens."
For this visit in June 2026, the focus of the base has completely shifted towards the planning of military contingencies related to Cuba.
"We are here to talk to your leaders, but more importantly this morning, to be with you, to do some exercise in this beautiful place," concluded Hegseth to the troops assembled under the Guantánamo sun.
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