Mike Hammer Speaks Out on U.S.-Cuba Talks, Warns Cuban Regime

In a powerful interview with journalist Mario J. Pentón for Martí Noticias, the U.S. Chargé d'Affaires in Havana, Mike Hammer, provided a clear perspective on the Trump administration's stance regarding Cuba's situation.

Using straightforward language, the diplomat condemned the regime's repression, criticized the official narrative surrounding the embargo, insisted that releasing political prisoners is "non-negotiable," and warned that "the behavior of that dictatorship will no longer be tolerated."

Trump's Public Declaration on U.S.-Cuba Discussions

Hammer addressed the recent exchanges between Presidents Donald Trump and Miguel Díaz-Canel regarding conversations between their administrations. It wasn't merely speculation; it was a public statement by President Trump asserting negotiations with the Cuban regime. Shortly after, Díaz-Canel firmly denied any such contacts.

Amid this scenario, Hammer chose not to delve into specifics but made it clear where his trust lies: "When President Trump says something, he says it, and it's very clear." This statement supported the president’s version and suggested that any potential engagement would be contingent on political conditions set by the administration.

"We stand with the Cuban people, with the ordinary Cuban," emphasized the diplomat, making it clear that there would be no room for concessions unless fundamental rights in the island are respected.

The Reality of Cuba: A Betrayed Revolution

Having traveled extensively throughout the island and engaged directly with citizens in their homes, Hammer was blunt about Cuba's internal situation. He explained that his interactions with the Cuban reality revealed a widespread sense of frustration among the populace: "People tell me that not only has the revolution failed, but it has betrayed them."

He categorically rejected the notion that Cuba's economic and social crisis is the result of U.S. sanctions. "There are no medicines, no electricity, no fuel, and garbage isn't collected. That’s not the fault of the United States. The people know this," he stated.

Hammer also described the regime's insistence on blaming the embargo for the collapse of essential services as "propaganda." He noted, "Chicken comes in, food and medicine are not sanctioned." He highlighted the internal inequality in resource distribution, pointing out that while hospitals lack supplies and streets are dark, "luxury hotels are lit up while the rest of the city is in darkness."

For him, this illustrates that "the problem is the failed policies of the ruling clique."

Release of Political Prisoners: An Unyielding Demand

A major focus of the interview was the plight of over a thousand political prisoners who, according to independent organizations, remain incarcerated in Cuba. Hammer was unequivocal: "From the start, the Trump administration has made it clear that all political prisoners must be released. This is not a matter for negotiation. It's a yes or yes situation."

He specifically referenced the July 11, 2021 (11J) protesters who are still imprisoned and condemned the abuses against them. "They are violating the human rights of the Cuban people, of innocent people who protest because the situation is dire," he emphasized.

In his view, international pressure is crucial: "The behavior of that dictatorship will no longer be tolerated."

Immigration and Sanctions: A Stance Against Oppression

The ambassador also discussed the political manipulation of migration by the Cuban regime, as well as the entry of repressive officials into U.S. territory. He supported recent migration restrictions and the travel ban implemented by the White House.

"Cuba is a state sponsor of terrorism. They harbor terrorist fugitives and refuse to return them," he explained, adding that there are repressors who entered the U.S. while the people suffer, and this "is being corrected."

Hammer confirmed that, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security, deportations are being executed and that the U.S. embassy will follow the country's laws "and the president's executive orders."

Furthermore, he indicated that Washington is working on new measures to limit resources sustaining the Cuban repressive apparatus. "They use those resources to suppress the people. That cannot continue."

Specifically, he mentioned that new sanctions are being considered against military-controlled entities like the GAESA conglomerate and highlighted the foreign missions of doctors as a form of "human trafficking."

Call to the International Community

In a message directed at other diplomats and governments, Hammer urged them to break free from the officialist bubble: "Get out of Havana, listen to the ordinary Cuban, and open your eyes to the reality of the island."

He insisted that isolating the regime should not be left solely to the United States and that greater international pressure is needed, both from Latin America and Europe.

At the end of the interview, the official shared his personal vision for Cuba's future. "I see a free Cuba," he declared confidently, ending with a promise that resonated as both a warning and a hope: "That day is approaching."

Hammer's message is unambiguous: “Human rights violations will no longer be tolerated.”