By José Ramón Cabañas Rodríguez
Between December 16 and 18, 2025, the 23rd edition of the series of Dialogues on Cuba in US Foreign Policy took place in Havana, Cuba, an event that brings together experts from the US, Cuba, and other countries on an annual basis. The event is organized by the Center for International Policy Research, attached to the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is responsible for disseminating the results of the meeting. Information on this and previous editions can be found at www.cipi.cu
Among the diverse topics addressed in the eight panels that were presented, the information offered by Cuban specialists from the Ministry of the Interior under the title “Main Results and Obstacles in the Cuba-United States Dialogue on Law Enforcement and Compliance” should be highlighted. This is the second time that a very detailed summary of these aspects has been presented. When it was first presented in the 2024 edition, most of the U.S. experts in attendance expressed their astonishment at information “that could hardly be found in other sources.”
On this occasion, the details require special consideration, given that in its handling of relations, or lack thereof, with various Latin American countries, the current U.S. administration seeks to ignore important background information and replace it with brief, unsubstantiated statements that construct a narrative about various events that suits its agenda but is completely divorced from historical reality.
In the case of Cuba, it is very important that whenever attempts are made to create arguments to undermine the ties that have been established over the years, facts and data are reiterated that, due to their own weight and significance, do not admit diverse or contradictory interpretations.
In the aforementioned panel, the specialists began their presentation by citing the legal instruments that have formalized bilateral dialogue and cooperation in areas of interest. These are:
– Ship-to-Ship Communication Protocol signed on April 21, 2015
– Memorandum of Understanding between the Minint-AGR and DHS (May 5, 2016)
– Agreement for Cuba-US operational cooperation to combat illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances (June 21, 2016)
– Cooperation Agreement between Cuba and the US on preparedness and response to pollution caused by spills of oil and other harmful and potentially dangerous substances in the Gulf of Mexico and the Florida Straits (January 9, 2017)
– Migration Agreement “Joint Declaration” for the normalization of migration relations between Cuba and the US (January 12, 2017)
– Agreement between the governments of Cuba and the US on Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (January 18, 2017)
– Memorandum of Understanding for Cooperation in Law Enforcement and Compliance (January 16, 2017)
The last of these texts provides for the existence and operation of eight technical working groups in the following areas: combating terrorism, combating illicit drug trafficking, combating illicit trafficking in migrants and immigration fraud, combating money laundering and other financial crimes, mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, trade security and protection of persons, combating human trafficking, cybersecurity, and combating cybercrime.
The following meetings have been held to analyze compliance with these agreements:
1st – November 9, 2015, in Washington
2nd – May 17, 2016, in Havana
3rd – September 15, 2017, in Washington
4th – July 10, 2018, in Washington
5th – January 18, 2023, in Havana
6th – February 7, 2024, in Washington
As can be seen, these meetings have been held under the Obama administration, during Donald Trump’s first term, and during Joe Biden’s administration, alternating between the two capitals.
On the US side, officials from the Departments of State, Homeland Security, Justice, and the Coast Guard have been present at these meetings. On the Cuban side, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Transport, the General Customs Office of the Republic, and the Attorney General’s Office of the Republic have attended.
According to the thematic division of each of the groups created under the general memorandum on Law Enforcement and Compliance, the following meetings have been held:
11 contacts between representatives of the Border Guard Troops and the Coast Guard (the last one was on September 11-12, 2024).
Eight on combating human trafficking and immigration fraud (the last on April 17, 2024).
Five to address cybersecurity issues and combating cybercrime
(the last on January 12, 2018).
Four on combating terrorism (the last on April 27-28, 2023).
3 on combating illicit drug trafficking.
[last (virtual) July 19, 2023].
2 on combating money laundering and other financial crimes. (last February 12, 2018).
2 on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. (last January 16, 2018).
1 on combating human trafficking. (February 14, 2018).
Once again, reviewing the dates of these agreements shows that they were distributed chronologically over the last three US administrations prior to 2025.
Specifically, with regard to the exchange between the Border Patrol (TGF) and the Coast Guard (SGC):
– The direct line of communication between the TGF and the CGS (7th District) established in 1984 is maintained through the CGS liaison at the US Embassy in Cuba.
– From December 7, 2000, to December 1, 2024, there have been 13 CGS liaisons based in Havana.
– Eleven (11) TGF-SGC Technical Meetings have been held, addressing issues such as combating international drug trafficking and illegal emigration by sea, coordinating maritime search and rescue operations, exchanges on port security, and coordinating the response to oil spills in the Florida Straits.
– There is real-time, case-by-case communication between the TGF Operational Centers and the 7th District of the SGC.
– Over the last 11 years, U.S. authorities have been alerted to more than 500 drug smuggling operations into their territory, with timely and accurate information provided on the location of naval assets, characteristics, and possible routes.
– Reciprocal visits to port facilities have been made, continuing exchanges on port security and confirming mutual interest in developing cooperation.
The US is yet to sign the “TGF-SGC Operational Procedures for Information Exchange.”
With regard to the smuggling of migrants and immigration fraud, the Cuban Directorate of Identification, Immigration, and Foreigners has identified that:
The incidence of human trafficking networks providing false documents to Cubans continues.
– There has been an increase in the detection of foreigners involved in human trafficking in its various forms. There has been an increase in cases involving minors without the presence of either parent.
– False documents have been detected in the possession of foreigners attempting to circumvent border controls in order to enter the United States illegally.
– More complex cases have been detected involving foreigners from outside the continent who have committed identity fraud, using authentic documents with details that differ from those of the actual bearer.
– Efforts to monitor attempts by foreigners to leave the country illegally by sea to the United States are also continuing.
– With the aim of maintaining regular, orderly, and safe migration, Cuban authorities are taking action at the air border against foreigners who show signs of being involved in possible human trafficking. Their journey is interrupted and they are returned to their country of origin on the same airline. In 2025, there were 345 such cases.
– Regarding irregular migration, during 2025, 74 reports were sent through the point of contact with the Department of Homeland Security on 91 incidents involving a total of 258 people of 43 nationalities, without receiving any feedback from the US side.
In this regard, the Cuban side has identified the following as the main obstacles to the development of bilateral cooperation:
– The intensification of the economic, commercial, and financial blockade and Cuba’s presence on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
– Contradictions in US migration policy with regard to Cuba and its manipulation. Validity of the Cuban Adjustment Act.
– Failure by the US to comply with the migration agreements signed between the two countries, mainly due to the return of all irregular migrants who arrive on its territory and the application of selective criteria for political purposes.
– Insufficient or no feedback from US authorities on the growing flow of information provided by Cuban authorities.
– Impunity for human traffickers operating from US territory, on whom Cuba has provided sufficient information.
– Lack of effective cooperation in addressing serious incidents that have threatened the national security of both countries (hijacking of aircraft and vessels belonging to the Cuban Border Guard).
With regard to the threat of transnational crime to Cuba and the United States, the Cuban side has conveyed its views on the following issues at the aforementioned meetings:
– The existence of criminal structures made up of Cubans residing in the US, which organize drug and migrant trafficking, human trafficking, financial fraud, money laundering, falsification of travel documents, and smuggling of goods.
– The flow of air travelers and the transport of packages used by drug traffickers, which undermines the control and security measures deployed at the borders of both countries.
– The transfer in both directions of persons sought by police and judicial authorities, which impacts the effective exercise of criminal prosecution and creates an environment of impunity among criminals.
– The US is the main source of synthetic cannabinoids to Cuba, in operations organized by air by Cubans residing in US territory, who are fully identified; this information has been shared transparently by the Cuban Ministry of the Interior through its point of contact with the DEA, with the aim of carrying out joint actions to neutralize them, but so far the response has been silence.
– INTERPOL Havana has shared information on 59 Cubans and 2 foreigners (23 with red alerts and 38 with green alerts) for drug-related crimes.
With regard to money laundering and other financial crimes:
– Cuban authorities have identified the involvement of Cuban emigrants or resettlers in investigations based on the investment of illicit funds brought in from the US as a result of their participation in the “MEDICARE” health insurance scam; directed at non-state forms of management and through the acquisition of movable and immovable property. Also, the cloning of US credit cards.
– Cuban nationals wanted by INTERPOL or at the state level, with the aim of seeking refuge and evading justice. Nine of them have been criminally prosecuted, despite not having received the evidence requested from the US counterpart.
With regard to legal assistance in criminal matters:
– Since the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Law Enforcement and Compliance in 2017 between Cuba and the US, the Cuban authorities, in line with their traditional position, have continued to cooperate on an ongoing basis with their counterparts in the provision of information and evidence on investigations carried out by US agencies relating to criminal activities of various kinds.
– On the contrary, the US authorities have generally failed to respond, and although in some cases they have provided information, this has been insufficient and ineffective, particularly in cases affecting the security and stability of our country, despite such conduct being prosecuted by the international community, which has contributed to its encouragement and impunity.
From a chronological point of view:
– Between 2017 and 2020, technical exchanges began, based on dialogues, specific cooperation, and previous meetings between other agencies, despite the maximum pressure policy of Trump’s first term.
– Between 2021 and 2022, the US obstructed these contacts, which had an impact on the growth of criminal activity of interest to both countries.
– Between 2023 and 2024, some specific contacts were maintained, but without progress in cooperation. A memorandum for criminal cooperation between the Cuban Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Department of Justice was proposed. No response to date.
In 2025, the new Trump administration interrupted these interagency contacts.
Between 2016 and 2024, the Cuban side has submitted and requested information on 50 cases involving individuals and events. Responses have been received only on seven alleged perpetrators of crimes in Cuba or the United States (four homicides, two cases of human trafficking, and one theft of historical documents).
Since the first contacts made within the framework of this mechanism, US agencies have been continuously informed of a significant number of perpetrators and acts of terrorism, drug traffickers and immigrants, homicides, and other crimes committed in Cuba and the United States. In most cases, we have not received responses, or they have not been effective.
Most of the unanswered requests have been linked to terrorist acts committed against national interests inside and outside Cuba. The Cuban national list on terrorism contains information on 62 individuals and 20 organizations that organize these activities from the United States.
The implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on law enforcement and compliance shows that it is possible to maintain and strengthen operational cooperation in the fight against crime.
In criminal matters, there are examples in recent years of how this cooperation can contribute to the security and protection of our fellow citizens, to the application of justice, and, jointly, to a more resolute confrontation of the scourges that threaten both societies and the world in general.
U.S. law enforcement agencies themselves have recognized the usefulness of the mechanism. If more progress has not been made, it is due to a lack of political will and willingness on the part of decision-makers in Washington. Cuban authorities have reiterated their commitment to continue cooperating in criminal investigations of interest to both countries.
The above is only a brief summary of the information shared by Cuban specialists in the aforementioned panel. It should be added to the information contained in the previous presentation from 2024, which was summarized in the article: “Cooperation between Cuba and the United States in law enforcement: Evolution, Results, and Limitations,” published at http://www.cubadebate.cu/especiales/2025/02/19/cooperacion-entre-cuba-y-estados-unidos-en-aplicacion-y-cumplimiento-de-la-ley-evolucion-resultados-y-limitaciones/
The current creators of so-called post-truth in the United States, who repeat unsubstantiated arguments through the passive corporate press, who create states of opinion in an attempt to isolate countries, who flood social media with nervous impulses rather than knowledge, who are dedicated to satisfying agendas that guarantee their permanence in elected or bureaucratic positions out of fear of leadership, should take the time to respond to the reality that Cuba is once again expressing and analyze who really benefits from the impact on bilateral cooperation in the areas discussed in this text.
