US invasion incoming? Top American general meets Cuban commanders amid rising tensions

Washington: The top American military commander overseeing Latin America held a rare face-to-face meeting with senior Cuban military officials near the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay on Friday, even as President Donald Trump continues to intensify pressure on Havana through sanctions, military deployments and diplomatic warnings.

Francis Donovan met with Roberto Legra Sotolongo and other senior Cuban officers in what U.S. Southern Command described as a “brief exchange on operational security matters” near the perimeter of the Guantanamo Bay naval facility.

The meeting marks one of the highest-level military contacts between the two countries in recent years and comes against the backdrop of worsening relations between Washington and Havana.

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President Donald Trump has repeatedly sharpened his rhetoric toward Cuba, warning that the island nation “is next” after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro during a January operation. Since then, the Trump administration has tightened sanctions, enforced an oil blockade and maintained a military presence in the Caribbean region.

Security talks focus on Guantanamo Bay

Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces said both delegations viewed the meeting positively.

“The meeting was positive because it addressed security issues along the perimeter separating the military enclave, and they agreed to maintain communication between the two military commands.”

During the visit, Donovan also reviewed security arrangements at the U.S. naval installation and met base officials to discuss the “safety of service members and their families, and operational readiness with base officials,” according to U.S. Southern Command.

The Guantanamo Bay base remains one of the most contentious symbols in U.S.-Cuba relations, with Havana continuing to oppose the American military presence on Cuban soil.

The meeting follows a series of high-level contacts involving Trump administration officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who recently held discussions with Cuban authorities. However, Washington has signalled dissatisfaction with the outcomes, leading to additional sanctions on the Cuban government.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon announced that a new contingent of around 1,300 sailors and Marines will replace the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit currently operating in the region, underscoring continued U.S. military attention on the Caribbean