The top military commander of the U.S. Southern Command (General Donovan) met with Cuba's Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces near the controversial Guantánamo Bay Naval Base. This marked the highest-level military contact between the two sides since the Trump administration intensified pressure on Cuba this year. The two sides discussed issues related to border security and preventing accidental clashes, and agreed to maintain ongoing communication in the future. Cuba described the meeting as "positive."
Although military officials sat down to talk, Washington did not ease its pressure on Cuba—on the contrary, it has adopted multiple tough measures:
Cutting off fuel and electricity: In early 2024, the Trump administration cut off fuel supplies to Cuba, leading to widespread power outages across the island and causing severe hardships for ordinary citizens.
Aircraft carrier blockade: Last week, the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz arrived in the Caribbean Sea accompanied by a large fleet of warships. This deployment evokes memories of the military buildup earlier this year when U.S. forces launched a surprise operation targeting Venezuela and attempting to capture its president.
Prosecuting former leaders: The U.S. Department of Justice also filed charges against Raúl Castro, the 94-year-old former Cuban president, over his alleged involvement in the 1996 incident where two planes carrying exiled dissidents were shot down. This move is widely seen abroad as an attempt by the U.S. to justify potential military action.
CIA demands at the door: For the first time in decades, the Director of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency made a rare visit to Cuba, demanding that Cuba implement political liberalization reforms and transition from socialism to a market economy.
Facing these various threats and sanctions, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has taken a firm stance. He condemned U.S. actions as violations of international law and labeled them a form of "collective punishment" against the Cuban people. He stated that if the U.S. dares to launch a military invasion, Cuba is fully prepared for self-defense—even willing to sacrifice lives to defend national independence. At the same time, he emphasized that Cuba is open to negotiations with the United States, but only on equal footing—not under American ultimatums.
The current situation sees the U.S. applying comprehensive pressure through economic blockades, military encirclement, and legal tactics in an effort to force regime change in Cuba; while Cuba continues to resist under extreme hardship, preparing for the worst-case scenario of war while insisting on dialogue based on equality. This confrontation remains highly charged, and tensions in the Caribbean remain extremely high.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866783972721924/
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