On November 12, General Francis L. Donovan, commander of the United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), observed a live-fire and maneuver exercise conducted by Marines of Task Force Secure at the Naval Station Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. This demonstration of military strength was officially shared by SOUTHCOM on their social media platform, X, this past Saturday.
Photographs released depict Donovan instructing Marines in open fields, as well as two soldiers operating an M2 Browning .50 caliber heavy machine gun mounted on a tripod, positioned for combat on sandy terrain.
The official SOUTHCOM statement highlighted that Task Force Secure engages in such training exercises to "maintain operational readiness and support mission requirements at Guantánamo Bay."
The announcement also tagged the Department of War—a secondary designation adopted by the Pentagon in September 2025, following an executive order by Donald Trump—indicating high-level institutional coordination.
This exercise isn't an isolated event. Throughout 2026, Task Force Secure, comprising over 140 Marines as part of the Joint Task Force–Southern Guard, has ramped up its training activities. These have included nighttime aerial operations with UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters in July, a joint M4 carbine shooting exercise in May, and anti-drone maneuvers dubbed "No Fly Zone" on November 3, just days before the exercise overseen by Donovan.
Adding to this, SOUTHCOM announced in October that Guantánamo will host the first regional center for the new SOUTHCOM Autonomous Warfare Command (SAWC), established under Donovan’s directive in April 2026 to integrate drones and autonomous systems into base operations.
The live-fire exercise took place amid heightened military tensions between the two nations. From November 4 to 6, Cuba conducted its Moncada 2026 exercise, the largest defensive mobilization of the year, involving the Revolutionary Armed Forces, the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), militias, and reservists under the "war of the entire people" doctrine.
During these maneuvers, General Roberto Legrá Sotolongo, Chief of the General Staff of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, warned that Cuba would defend "house by house, neighborhood by neighborhood."
On the same day Donovan observed the live-fire exercise, Raúl Castro sent a message to the Border Brigade—the unit guarding the perimeter of the Guantánamo base—on its 65th anniversary.
The confrontational tone is not new. In June, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited the installation and cautioned that any acquisition by Cuba of weapons capable of reaching the base or U.S. mainland would trigger a confrontation that Cuba "could not withstand."
Donovan, an infantry and special operations officer with nearly four decades of service in the Marine Corps, assumed command of SOUTHCOM on February 5, 2026. Since then, he has made Guantánamo the focal point of a modernization and operational reinforcement agenda that, as evidenced by Wednesday's exercise, shows no sign of slowing down.
Key Questions on Military Activity in Guantánamo Bay
What is the purpose of the live-fire exercises at Guantánamo Bay?
The live-fire exercises are conducted to maintain operational readiness and support mission requirements at Guantánamo Bay.
How has Task Force Secure increased its training activities in 2026?
Task Force Secure has intensified its training with activities such as nighttime aerial operations, joint shooting exercises, and anti-drone maneuvers throughout 2026.
What is the significance of the new SOUTHCOM Autonomous Warfare Command (SAWC)?
The SAWC, established to integrate drones and autonomous systems into military operations, marks a significant advancement in SOUTHCOM's strategic capabilities at Guantánamo Bay.