The Trump administration’s fuel blockade of Cuba has prompted discussion of a potential response to a resulting humanitarian crisis. During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday, US Marine Corps Gen. Francis Donovan, commander of the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), stated the military will “set up a camp” at Guantánamo Bay to detain those attempting to flee the crisis, which Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) described as a “humanitarian crisis.”
Gen. Donovan, a 37-year Marine veteran appointed by President Donald Trump in February, explained that SOUTHCOM has an executive order to support the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in a mass migration event, with DHS taking the lead and the military following. This would involve utilizing the US military base at Guantánamo Bay to “deal with those migrants or any overflow from any situation in Cuba itself.”
This development follows the resignation of Adm. Alvin Holsey, Gen. Donovan’s predecessor, in December. Adm. Holsey reportedly resigned after raising concerns about the Trump administration’s bombings of alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean, actions widely described as illegal under international law.
The discussion in the Senate followed a warning from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) of a “possible mass exodus out of Cuba” following an island-wide electricity blackout earlier this week. This blackout occurred after the Trump administration’s blockade of fuel entering the island, which a group of UN rapporteurs stated in January was “a serious violation of international law and a grave threat to a democratic and equitable international order.”
According to a YouGov poll released this week, just 28% of adult US citizens approve of the US blocking oil shipments to Cuba, while 46% oppose it. The same survey found that 61% would oppose the leverage of US military force against Cuba, with only 13% in favor.
Erik Sperling, the executive director of Just Foreign Policy, emphasized that any “mass migration event” would be a direct result of the US “starving Cuba of energy and food.” Just Foreign Policy stated via social media that US sanctions and intervention in Latin America have historically been a primary driver of migration flows.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Gen. Donovan say about Guantánamo Bay?
Gen. Donovan stated the military would “set up a camp” at Guantánamo Bay to “deal with those migrants or any overflow from any situation in Cuba itself” in the event of a mass migration.
Who resigned from SOUTHCOM prior to Gen. Donovan’s appointment?
Adm. Alvin Holsey resigned as commander of SOUTHCOM in December, reportedly due to concerns about the Trump administration’s bombings of alleged drug trafficking boats.
What did Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warn about?
Gov. DeSantis warned of a “possible mass exodus out of Cuba” following a recent island-wide electricity blackout.
As the situation in Cuba continues to evolve under the weight of the US blockade, what impact will these policies have on the potential for further migration and the response from the US government?
