US Commander Meets With Cuban Military Leaders During Guantanamo Bay Visit

Trump has been steadily raising pressure on Havana in recent months and has hinted at a military action against the communist-led state.

U.S. Marine Corps Gen. Francis L. Donovan, the Commander of U.S. Southern Command, visits the U.S. Embassy in Caracas, Venezuela, alongside other U.S. Marines, on May 23, 2026. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Nathan Mitchell

The top officer in charge of U.S. military operations across Latin America met with senior Cuban military leaders in Cuba on May 29, marking a rare meeting at a moment of rising U.S. pressure on the communist-led state.

On Friday, the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced its commander, Marine Corps Gen. Francis L. Donovan, met with several Cuban military leaders—including Cuban Army Corps Gen. Roberto Legrá Sotolongo—along the perimeter of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. SOUTHCOM described the meeting as “a brief exchange on operational security matters,” without sharing further details about the substance of their discussions.