Mike Hammer, head of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba, met with Admiral Adam Chamie, commander of the Coast Guard's Southeast District, during the 2026 Mission Chiefs Conference held at the Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) headquarters in Doral, Florida, this Wednesday.
Hammer shared a photograph from the meeting on the official Embassy account in Cuba, stating, "It was a pleasure to meet with the U.S. Coast Guard District South commander, Admiral Adam Chamie, at the Southern Command Mission Chiefs Conference. We are united in protecting the U.S."
The conference, which took place on May 5th and 6th, brought together diplomatic leaders from U.S. embassies in the Western Hemisphere to align national security priorities.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio—also serving as interim National Security Advisor—opened the event alongside General Francis L. Donovan, commander of SOUTHCOM.
The U.S. Embassy in Cuba had confirmed Hammer's participation the previous day: "Our head of mission Mike Hammer attended the Western Hemisphere mission chiefs meeting at Southern Command, where Secretary Rubio and General Frank Donovan discussed U.S. priorities in our region."
During a press briefing at the White House on Tuesday, Rubio delivered a stern message about Cuba, asserting, "Things are going to change," and labeling the regime as a "failed state" run by "incompetent communists."
Admiral Chamie also leads Operation Vigilant Sentry, an interagency effort initiated in 2004 that deploys air, land, and sea assets in the Florida Straits, Windward Passage, and Caribbean Sea to prevent irregular maritime migration.
His district covers 1.8 million square miles, including Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, with operational borders with 34 nations.
The meeting occurs amid heightened concerns over a potential mass exodus from Cuba. Since January 2026, the collapse of Venezuelan oil supplies has worsened the energy crisis on the island, causing blackouts lasting up to 25 hours in over 55% of Cuban territory.
General Donovan acknowledged before Congress in March 2026 that SOUTHCOM maintains contingency plans for such a scenario, including the use of facilities at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base.
Hammer, meanwhile, has maintained an active presence in Cuba since 2023, visiting communities and engaging with civil society, despite facing acts of repudiation organized by the regime.
In February, Hammer responded assertively after one such incident, telling Telemundo that "there will be change in 2026" and that "the dictatorship will end."
The coordination between U.S. diplomacy in Cuba and the Coast Guard also takes place in the context of Hammer's key meeting with Rubio and Southern Command, where Cuba was a central topic on the regional security agenda.
Key Insights on U.S.-Cuba Relations and Security Challenges
What was the purpose of the Mission Chiefs Conference at Southern Command?
The Mission Chiefs Conference aimed to align national security priorities among diplomatic leaders from U.S. embassies in the Western Hemisphere.
How is Admiral Adam Chamie involved in regional security?
Admiral Chamie leads Operation Vigilant Sentry, an interagency effort to prevent irregular maritime migration in the Florida Straits, Windward Passage, and Caribbean Sea.
What are the current challenges in Cuba that concern U.S. officials?
Cuba faces a severe energy crisis, exacerbated by the collapse of Venezuelan oil supplies, resulting in prolonged blackouts and raising fears of a mass exodus from the island.