Since his arrival in Cuba in November 2024 as U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, Mike Hammer has carried out a series of actions that violate the most basic principles of diplomacy and international agreements governing relations between states. His conduct, far from fostering bilateral dialogue, has been marked by proselytism, confrontation, and open support for counterrevolutionary sectors both inside and outside the Island.
Violations of Diplomacy and International Agreements
Hammer has repeatedly ignored the norms established in the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) and Article 41 of the UN Charter, which require diplomatic representatives to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the host country. However, his public agenda has consisted of:
- Meeting exclusively with counterrevolutionary figures, avoiding contact with Cuban authorities, even during visits to provinces where diplomatic protocol requires coordination with local governments.
- Openly promoting division between generations, attempting to pit Cubans born before and after 1959 against each other in a crude attempt to delegitimize revolutionary history.
- Defying MINREX, whose warnings about his interventionist behavior have been systematically ignored.
A Diplomat Who Doesn’t Negotiate, But Destroys
Hammer has made it clear that he is not in Cuba to build bridges, but to deepen his government’s hostile policy:
- Defending the economic blockade, despite its annual condemnation by the UN as a violation of international law.
- Denying any interest in negotiating with the Cuban government, even on migration issues, instead prioritizing support for individuals funded by his government to promote the desired “regime change” on the island.
- Attacking historical Cuban figures, including José Martí, in an attempt to rewrite national history and undermine symbols of Cuban identity.
Ties to Counterrevolution and Miami’s Right Wing
His alignment with extremist sectors is evident:
- Accepting the title of “Ambassador of Exile” granted by Miami groups, legitimizing those who advocate for intervention in Cuba.
- Meeting with James Cason, known for his aggressive role during the U.S. mission in Havana (2002-2005), which sought to destabilize the country.
- Using “Radio Martí” as a platform, a media outlet funded by Washington for anti-Cuban propaganda, while ignoring national press.
A Dangerous Precedent: Provocation or Break?
Hammer’s attitude recalls that of diplomats expelled in the past for interventionist activities. His strategy appears designed to:
- Provoke a diplomatic crisis to justify increased sanctions.
- Strengthen the narrative of an “illegitimate regime,” used by Marco Rubio and the Trump-Biden administration to maintain the policy of economic suffocation.
- Serve his personal ambitions within the State Department, where he has demonstrated a complete lack of professional ethics, as previously occurred in Africa.
Diplomacy as a Facade
Mike Hammer is not a diplomat, but a political operator serving an agenda of domination and subversion. His mission in Cuba confirms that the United States does not seek relations based on respect, but rather the imposition of its will through pressure and destabilization.
The Cuban government has been patient, but patience has limits. The international community must denounce these violations, because what is happening in Cuba is not diplomacy: it is political warfare in disguise.
