In a significant development, US Southern Command’s Commander Gen. Francis Donovan met with senior Cuban military officials at the perimeter of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. This rare meeting focused on operational security matters and comes at a time of increased military presence in the Caribbean.

Security Discussions at Guantanamo

Gen. Donovan engaged with Cuban Army Corps Gen. Roberto Legrá Sotolongo, Cuba’s first deputy minister of the chief of the general staff, and other senior leaders. The discussions centered on security around the dividing perimeter of the military enclave, with both sides agreeing to maintain communication between their military commands.

The Cuban Ministry of Defense described the meeting as positive, highlighting the importance of addressing security issues in the region. This meeting follows a recent visit by CIA Director John Ratcliffe to Havana, indicating a potential thaw in US-Cuban relations despite ongoing tensions.

Regional Tensions and Military Buildup

The meeting occurs against the backdrop of a US military buildup near Cuba, with the USS Nimitz carrier strike group arriving in the Caribbean. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel recently warned that any US military assault on the island would have severe consequences.

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Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.