Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is heading to the US naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, with the Pentagon saying he will make the trip to “engage with troops”.
The visit, disclosed in a single-sentence announcement, comes as Washington intensifies its pressure campaign against Cuba, rolling out sanctions alongside a crippling oil blockade.
US President Donald Trump has repeatedly indicated he wants to topple the island’s communist government, tying that goal to the strong backing he received from Cuban-Americans — political support he has credited with helping him return to the White House.
Beyond Guantanamo, the Pentagon said Mr Hegseth will also stop in Tampa, Florida, home to the headquarters of US Central Command (CENTCOM).
CENTCOM is responsible for US forces operating in the Middle East, including missions aimed at Iran.
Guantanamo Bay is also where those detained after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks are held
Mr Hegseth’s trip follows recent high-level visits linked to the base. Late last month, the senior US general directing operations in Latin America travelled to Guantanamo and met with Cuban military leaders.
The US military said the meeting involving General Francis Donovan was “a brief exchange on operational security matters”.
“Gen Donovan also led a perimeter security assessment of the naval base and discussed force protection, safety of service members and their families and operational readiness with base officials,” US Southern Command added.
Two weeks earlier, CIA Director John Ratcliffe travelled to Havana for meetings with Cuban officials.
Guantanamo Bay sits about 700 kilometres southeast of Miami on Cuba’s southeastern coast and is widely known for allegations of abuse involving prisoners held there after the 11 September 2001 terrorist attacks.
Mr Trump has also pushed to repurpose the base as a holding centre for migrant deportations.
Last month, former Cuban president Raúl Castro was charged in the United States with murder.
The 94-year-old faces one count of conspiracy to kill US nationals, four counts of murder and two counts of destruction of aircraft, according to the documents.
