On Friday, April 17th, according to the US news website Axios, officials from the US State Department traveled to the capital of Cuba for a historic meeting with Cuban officials. This marks a significant diplomatic breakthrough, as it is the first time in a decade that a US government plane has landed in Cuba, since Barack Obama’s visit seeking reconciliation ten years ago.
Reports indicate that the Trump administration urged Cuban authorities to respect democracy and economic freedom, warning of the risks of not heeding US advice.
Currently, Cuba is closer to social collapse than ever before, and faced with a strong alliance between President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the US has not shown willingness to make concessions as in the past.
A senior State Department official confirmed that the two sides have held multiple meetings, although the names of attendees were not disclosed, one key Cuban attendee was confirmed – Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, the grandson of former Cuban leader Castro.
US media reports describe the grandson, nicknamed “El Cangrejo” (The Crab), as the de facto spokesperson of his grandfather, who remains the true ruler of Cuba.
A US official stated that they emphasized to the Castro regime that “the Cuban economy is in a freefall and the ruling elite on the island has only a short window of time to undertake crucial, US-supported reforms before the situation irreversibly deteriorates.”
The US delegation discussed the necessity for Cuba to reform its economy and governance system, proposing the establishment of a Starlink satellite service to help restore internet services and reiterated long-standing US policies to assist Cuba in lifting embargo restrictions. These policies include compensating US residents and businesses for assets confiscated after the 1959 revolution, releasing political prisoners, ensuring greater political freedom for the Cuban people, and ultimately including free and fair elections.
US officials expressed concerns that the Cuban government allows foreign intelligence agencies, military organizations, and terrorist groups to engage in espionage activities less than 100 miles from US territory.
According to Axios, US officials told their Cuban counterparts, “President Trump is committed to seeking a diplomatic solution as much as possible, but if Cuban leaders are unwilling or unable to take action, the US will not allow Cuba to become a significant national security threat.”
Cuba is approximately 100 miles away from the coast of Florida, where it can intercept communications from US military, commercial, and other activities in the southeastern region, which includes dozens of US military bases. The headquarters of US Central Command and US Special Operations Command are located in Tampa, Florida, with US Southern Command based in Miami.
According to a statement by the Biden administration in June 2023, the Chinese Communist Party has had a spy base in Cuba since at least 2019, as Beijing expands its global intelligence collection efforts.
Prior to this, the Wall Street Journal cited sources who claimed that China and Cuba had reached a preliminary agreement to establish an electronic eavesdropping station in Cuba. Informed officials revealed that as part of the negotiations, Beijing planned to pay billions of dollars to economically troubled Cuba.
The Biden administration rebuffed the report, calling it inaccurate, but declined to specify which parts were inaccurate. The White House statement at the time said, “The issue of the Chinese Communist Party setting up a spy base in Cuba is an ongoing concern rather than a new development, and the arrangements described in the report do not align with our understanding.”
In the days following, Reuters published an in-depth report with journalists delving into the depths of Cuba, revealing a Chinese military area in the Cuban town of Bejucal. The military zone is located in dense wilderness on a mountain ridge, equipped with large parabolic antennas, some of which are partially obstructed by the frontal slope of the mountain.