U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth flew into the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on Wednesday. The visit is the latest high-profile trip by a senior American official as President Donald Trump steps up pressure on the communist-ruled island and demands drastic reforms from the government in Havana.
During his visit, Hegseth visited troops stationed at the base and warned Cuba against acquiring armaments or weapons that could put the U.S. military, the U.S. mainland, or American soil at risk.
The Trump administration has ramped up pressure against Cuba through sanctions and a devastating oil blockade. President Trump has repeatedly signaled that the Cuban government could be the next to fall to U.S. pressure after Venezuela.
Hegseth's trip follows a visit less than two weeks ago by General Francis Donovan, the top U.S. commander for Latin America. During his visit to Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Donovan held discussions with a senior Cuban general at the base's perimeter.