On Monday, Mike Hammer, the chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Cuba, held a significant meeting with General Francis L. Donovan, the commander of the Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). The Embassy summed up the meeting with a brief yet impactful statement: "A lot to discuss about Cuba."
This meeting took place just two days after a coordinated pressure campaign on the Cuban regime. The effort, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the CIA, and SOUTHCOM, openly encouraged Cubans to assist U.S. intelligence in fostering political change on the island.
Last Friday, General Donovan addressed Cubans through SOUTHCOM's official channel, urging them to seize the moment and create the change they desire. He highlighted the need to end broken promises, rampant corruption, and the opulence of an elite class while ordinary citizens are disregarded.
Over the weekend, the CIA released a seven-step operational guide in Spanish, instructing Cubans on how to safely contact the agency. Rubio also urged discretion in these efforts on Saturday.
This isn't Hammer's first meeting with SOUTHCOM's leadership. Throughout 2026, he has engaged with the command multiple times—meeting with then-chief Evan L. Pettus in January, followed by another meeting in February, a solo meeting with Donovan in March, and participating in a Mission Chiefs' Conference in May alongside Rubio and Donovan in Doral, Florida.
These series of meetings underscore Cuba's strategic importance to Washington. In August 2026, the New York Times disclosed the CIA's establishment of a task force focused solely on Cuba, placing it on the same level as China, Iran, and Russia. CBS News further reported in September that the Army Reserve was assessing its readiness, including military police units, medical personnel, engineers, and logistical support for SOUTHCOM, within 90 to 120 days. Although the internal document reviewed did not explicitly mention Cuba, U.S. officials linked it to military planning concerning the island. However, the report did not confirm deployment orders or an authorized military operation.
Hammer has also faced systematic harassment from the Cuban regime. During his visits to activists and dissidents across the island, he has been targeted by state-organized repudiation acts. The most recent incident occurred on October 6, when Hammer visited activist Anna Bensi in Alamar, Havana, and was met with slogans against him. The Embassy responded the next day with a cautionary note to the regime: "Like other diplomatic missions, we are taking note."
Cubalex documented 86 repressive incidents related to the Embassy or Hammer between January and September 2026, including three acts of repudiation aimed directly at the diplomat.
In response to the recent pressure campaign, the Cuban regime issued its own warnings. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla remarked, "Our coasts have beautiful beaches, but also rocky shores," alluding to those arriving with hostile intentions. Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío described the CIA's call as a sign of "desperation."
Monday's meeting between Hammer and Donovan reaffirms that Cuba remains a focal point in Washington's strategic agenda. The Embassy's warning—"we are taking note"—was not mere rhetoric but a precursor to an ongoing and escalating coordination effort.
Key Insights into U.S. and Cuba Relations
What was the purpose of Mike Hammer's meeting with General Donovan?
The meeting aimed to discuss strategic concerns regarding Cuba, following a coordinated pressure campaign by U.S. entities to encourage political change on the island.
How has the Cuban regime responded to recent U.S. actions?
The Cuban regime has issued warnings and criticized U.S. actions, with officials describing them as signs of desperation, while emphasizing their readiness to defend against perceived hostilities.
What has been the recent focus of the CIA regarding Cuba?
The CIA has established a task force dedicated to Cuba, aligning its focus with that on other major countries like China, Iran, and Russia, and has issued operational guidance for Cubans to securely contact the agency.