The United States Secretary of War, Pete Hegseth, visited the Guantanamo Naval Base this Wednesday and addressed training Navy troops, describing the facility as “a very important and strategic American territory” and delivering a direct message about the future of Cuba.
"It is an honor to be here in Guantanamo Bay. I was here 20 years ago, serving as a soldier as part of the detention mission. Then, as now, this has been a very important and strategic U.S. ground," declared Hegseth before the troops assembled at the base.
The official went even further in explaining the situation with Cuba: "What happens regarding the future of Cuba is in the hands of the President of the United States and the leadership of Cuba. No matter what happens, the Department of War will be prepared and poised for any possible eventuality," he stated before the troops.
Hegseth also emphasized the extent of American military might: "We want the world to understand that American power, whether it is 9,000 miles away or just 90 miles from our shores, is the strongest in the world and is prepared to go on the offensive or defensive at any moment to defend our interests".
The visit was officially announced on Tuesday by the Department of War and also includes a stop in Tampa, Florida, to meet with personnel from Central Command (CENTCOM).
The trip takes place amid an ongoing escalation of tensions between Washington and Havana. In May, leaks to U.S. media revealed that Southern Command developed military contingency plans for Cuba that range from airstrikes to a potential ground invasion, although no definitive decision has been made.
As part of the military reinforcement in the Caribbean, the U.S. deployed more than 1,300 marines under Operation Southern Spear and sent the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz to the region on May 20.
On May 30, the head of Southern Command, General Francis L. Donovan, met in Guantánamo with Cuban General Roberto Legrá Sotolongo, first deputy minister and head of the General Staff of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, in a meeting described as "a brief exchange on operational security matters."
From Havana, President Miguel Díaz-Canel stated last Sunday that Washington is considering three possible scenarios regarding Cuba: provoking a social explosion, imposing coercive dialogue, or executing a direct military aggression.
This is not Hegseth's first visit to Guantánamo. In February 2025, he had already visited the base to oversee migrant detention facilities as part of the deportation policy of the Trump administration.
The title "Secretary of War" that Hegseth uses corresponds to an executive order from President Trump dated September 5, 2025, which mandated referring to the Department of Defense as the "Department of War."
The Southern Command has officially designated Guantanamo as “a vital operational and logistical center that supports the military efforts of the U.S. to counter threats undermining security, stability, and democracy in the hemisphere.”
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