Military Power

Guantánamo Bay Naval Base at the southeastern end of Cuba has been used by the United States Navy for more than a century, and is the oldest overseas U.S. Navy Base and the only one in a country with which the United States does not have diplomatic relations.

U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay serves as the cornerstone of U.S. military operations in the Caribbean Theater providing logistics support to both U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels and aircraft, and to assets of the assigned Joint Task Force-Guantanamo.

The station is on the front lines of the battle for regional security and protection from drug trafficking and terrorism, and protection for those who attempt to make their way through regional seas in un-seaworthy craft.

The base protects the ability of U.S. Navy and Coast Guard ships to operate in the Caribbean operating area with supplies and support for their operational commitments. The station became host to the Detainee Mission of the War on Terror following the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.