Introduction
The Guantánamo Naval Base, located on the island of Cuba, is one of the most famous and controversial U.S. military installations. Known as GTMO or Gitmo, it is particularly associated with the detention of prisoners as part of the fight against terrorism following the attacks of September 11, 2001. Its existence is a major point of friction between the United States and Cuba, as well as a subject of debate on human rights internationally.
1. History of the Guantanamo Base
1.1 Origins: A Legacy of the Spanish-American War
The American presence at Guantanamo dates back to the end of the 19th century. In 1898, the United States entered the war against Spain and supported Cuban independence fighters. After the American victory, the Treaty of Paris (1898) ended Spanish domination of the island and made Cuba a territory under American influence.
In 1903, the Cuban-American Treaty granted the United States a perpetual lease on Guantanamo Bay to establish a naval base in exchange for a symbolic annual rent of $2,000 in gold (later increased to $4,085). This treaty, imposed by Washington under pressure, prohibited Cuba from revoking the agreement without the consent of the United States.
1.2 A Strategic Base
Originally, the Guantanamo base served primarily as a supply point for the American fleet in the Caribbean. Over time, it became a strategic military site, particularly during World War II and the Cold War, where it was a bastion against Soviet influence in the region.
1.3 The Cuban Revolution and the Break with the United States
The rise to power of Fidel Castro in 1959 marked a turning point. The revolutionary government rejected the American presence on Cuban territory and considered the base an illegal occupation. In 1961, after the failure of the Bay of Pigs landings and the breakdown of diplomatic relations, Cuba stopped cashing the rental checks sent by the United States. Since then, the base has operated self-sufficiently, supplied directly by the American army.
2. The Guantanamo Base and the War on Terror
2.1 The Opening of the Detention Center in 2002
After the attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States, under the administration of George W. Bush, launched the "War on Terror" and intervened in Afghanistan. In January 2002, the Guantanamo detention center was created to incarcerate individuals suspected of links to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.
The American authorities chose Guantanamo because the base is outside the sovereign territory of the United States, which allows them to circumvent certain legal protections of American law. Prisoners are held there without trial, often for an indefinite period, and some are subjected to controversial interrogation techniques that several international organizations have compared to torture.
2.2 Human Rights Violations
The conditions of detention and the interrogation methods used at Guantánamo have drawn strong criticism. Several reports by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the United Nations have denounced acts of torture, sleep deprivation, humiliation, and the lack of fair trials.
In 2004, the United States Supreme Court recognized for the first time that Guantánamo detainees have the right to challenge their detention before the American courts (Rasul v. Bush). However, many legal obstacles remain, and some prisoners remain incarcerated for years without formal charges.
2.3 Closure Attempts and Current Situation
Upon taking office in 2009, President Barack Obama attempted to close Guantánamo, but he encountered strong opposition from Congress. Although the number of detainees has significantly decreased, the prison remains open.
Under the Donald Trump administration, the closure of Guantánamo was abandoned. In 2021, President Joe Biden restarted the closure process, but legislative obstacles persist. Today, around thirty detainees are still incarcerated there, compared to nearly 800 at its peak.
3. Issues and Controversies surrounding Guantánamo
3.1 A Political and Diplomatic Issue
The Guantánamo base remains a point of tension between Cuba and the United States. Since the Cuban Revolution, the Cuban government has demanded the return of the territory, but Washington refuses.
From a diplomatic point of view, the Guantánamo prison is a stain on the image of the United States, criticized for its failure to respect international law and human rights. The European Union, the UN and several foreign governments regularly call for its closure.
3.2 A Military and Strategic Infrastructure
Despite its controversial aspect, Guantánamo remains an important military base for the United States. Its geographical position allows strategic control of the Caribbean maritime routes and increased surveillance of migratory flows.
3.3 A Debate on Security and Justice
Defenders of maintaining Guantánamo claim that it is an essential tool in the fight against terrorism, allowing dangerous individuals to be kept out of harm’s way. On the other hand, its opponents denounce an attack on the fundamental principles of law, and consider that these detainees should be judged in the traditional judicial system.
4. Conclusion
The Guantánamo base is a complex symbol: at once a vestige of American imperialism, a controversial prison and a strategic military issue. Its future remains uncertain, shared between international pressures, security issues and political blockages in the United States.
Its closure, announced many times, has never been carried out. It remains to be seen whether future American administrations will have the will and the political means to definitively turn the page on Guantánamo.