John Bolton, the former National Security Advisor under Donald Trump, criticized the governments of the United States and Canada on Friday for their failure to thoroughly investigate whether Russia used directed energy weapons against diplomats from both countries in Havana between 2016 and 2018. He implicated the Cuban regime as a silent accomplice, providing Moscow with an unrestricted playground for operations.
In an interview with The Globe and Mail, Bolton expressed that he suspected Russian involvement from the moment he was informed about the mysterious illnesses affecting American diplomatic personnel in Cuba, shortly after he began his role in 2018.
Russia's Unchecked Operations in Cuba
According to Bolton, a combination of geography and politics made Havana an ideal setting for covert experimentation. "Havana could have been the first place to test it because it was a location distinct from Moscow where the Russians could operate with complete freedom. But they also did it elsewhere. That suggests to me they were experimenting," Bolton stated.
This interpretation gains significance in today's context: U.S. intelligence reports indicate that since 2023, Russia and China have nearly tripled their intelligence personnel in Cuba, and military cooperation agreements between Moscow and Havana were signed in March 2025 and ratified by Russian President Vladimir Putin months later.
Bolton also suggested that the afflicted diplomats might have been targeted due to their suspected involvement in intelligence activities. "They could have been engaged in espionage, making them particularly interesting to both the Russians and the Cubans," he commented, adding that this should not come as a surprise since Canada is part of the Five Eyes alliance.
This assertion comes a week after The Globe and Mail disclosed a secret collaboration between the Canadian embassy and CIA agents in Havana. A Canadian diplomat had been sharing intelligence directly with American spies, and the U.S. had introduced satellite equipment into Cuba under diplomatic cover. Global Affairs Canada has denied that its diplomats engaged in espionage.
Inadequate Government Responses
Bolton remains unconvinced by the official conclusions from both governments. The U.S. National Intelligence Council concluded in 2023 that five out of its seven agencies considered it "very unlikely" that a foreign adversary was responsible for the symptoms. Similarly, Canada reached the same conclusion in 2024, attributing the illnesses of ten diplomats and their families to "pre-existing medical conditions, environmental factors, and conventional illnesses."
"In my opinion, both the Canadian and U.S. governments have failed," Bolton stated. "Saying it is unlikely is not a sufficient response," he added.
The 2024 Canadian report also omitted mentioning that the National Research Council and Defence Research and Development Canada had released a joint study that year. The study concluded that "scientific literature suggests a directed energy weapon is suspected to be the cause of the Havana syndrome reported by U.S. personnel in Cuba." A previous investigation by CBS 60 Minutes, Der Spiegel, and The Insider linked the symptoms to Russia's GRU Unit 29155, whose members were allegedly rewarded for work on "non-lethal acoustic weapons."
Bolton concluded, "I believe the bureaucracy does not want to confront the possibility that there were serious risks out there."
Compensation Disparities
As political debate intensifies in Ottawa, the disparity in treating the victims becomes increasingly evident. In July, the U.S. began payments under the HAVANA Act, disbursing nearly three million dollars in compensation to affected diplomats, spies, and military personnel. Meanwhile, Canada has not compensated any of its ten diplomats, who have been suing the government for 28 million dollars since 2019.
Foreign Minister Anita Anand referred to the diplomats' ailments as "a human resources matter," passing the file to her deputy minister without committing to reopening the investigation. Prime Minister Mark Carney acknowledged that "new information has come to light" and promised to await a detailed report before making any decisions, without announcing an independent commission.
Paul Miller, the diplomats' attorney, harshly summarized the situation: "The diplomats and their families have not been taken care of in any way since the attacks in Havana. After years of uncertainty, our clients deserve answers."
Unresolved Questions about the Havana Syndrome
What is the Havana Syndrome?
The Havana Syndrome refers to a series of unexplained health symptoms reported by U.S. and Canadian diplomats in Cuba, suspected to be caused by directed energy weapons.
What role is Russia suspected of having in the Havana Syndrome?
Russia is suspected of using directed energy weapons against diplomats in Havana, possibly experimenting with these technologies outside of Moscow with Cuba's tacit consent.