U.S. Accuses Cuba of Harassing Top Diplomat Amid Rising Tensions

The United States has accused Cuba of interfering with the work of its senior diplomat in Havana after videos emerged showing small groups of Cubans verbally harassing him during visits outside the capital. The incident has further escalated already heightened U.S.–Cuba tensions, as both countries exchange sharp accusations amid worsening diplomatic relations.

According to the U.S. State Department, Cuba engaged in what it called “failed intimidation tactics” against U.S. Charge d’Affaires Mike Hammer. In a post shared on social media, Washington demanded that Havana stop “sending individuals to interfere with the diplomatic work” of the U.S. mission. The accusation followed several encounters in which Hammer was jeered while meeting with residents and Catholic Church representatives in provincial areas.

The dispute comes at a sensitive moment in bilateral relations. U.S. President Donald Trump recently declared Cuba “an unusual and extraordinary threat” to U.S. national security, a move that marked a significant escalation in rhetoric. Trump also announced plans to impose tariffs on any country supplying oil to the communist-run Caribbean nation, tightening economic pressure on an island already facing a severe crisis. Despite the harsh tone, Trump suggested on Sunday that negotiations remain possible, calling Cuba “a failing nation” but adding that a deal could still be reached.

Hammer, a career diplomat who arrived in Cuba in late 2024, has traveled extensively across the island to meet with political dissidents, religious leaders, and members of civil society. Cuban authorities have accused him of attempting to incite unrest and undermine the state. On Saturday, Hammer shared a video describing alleged harassment after leaving a parish meeting, claiming that individuals shouted obscenities at him in frustration with the state of the Cuban revolution.

Additional videos later surfaced showing small groups chanting slogans such as “Assassin!” and “Imperialist!” during nighttime blackouts. Reuters was unable to independently verify the identities of those involved, and Cuba’s government has not issued an official response to the footage.

Cuba’s foreign ministry previously warned Hammer over what it described as “interventionist” conduct. The U.S. Embassy has rejected those claims, maintaining that Hammer is carrying out standard diplomatic duties. With decades of hostility dating back to Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution, the latest confrontation underscores how renewed U.S. pressure and Cuba’s deepening economic struggles are pushing relations to a new breaking point.