50 Facts About Guantanamo Bay

Guantanamo Bay: A Historical Overview

Guantanamo Bay, often referred to simply as "Gitmo," has a long and complex history. Its significance spans centuries, from early exploration to its current role as a U.S. naval base and detention center.

1. 01Establishment: Guantanamo Bay was established in 1898 by U.S. forces during the Spanish-American War.
2. 02Location: The base is situated on the southeastern coast of Cuba, approximately 90 miles (145 km) southeast of Havana.
3. 03Strategic Importance: Its strategic location has made it a valuable possession for maritime powers since the 15th century.
4. 04Christopher Columbus: Christopher Columbus landed at the bay on his second voyage to the Americas in 1494, calling it "Puerto Grande."
5. 05British Contests: In 1741, Vice Admiral Edward Vernon and 3,000 British troops arrived at the bay to begin an unsuccessful campaign to capture Santiago.
6. 06French Privateers: In December 1760, boats from the frigates HMS Trent and HMS Boreas cut out the French privateers Vainquer and Mackau hiding in the bay.

The Early 20th Century: Expansion and Development

The early 1900s saw significant developments at Guantanamo Bay, including lease agreements and infrastructure projects.

7. 07U.S. Naval Base: The U.S. Congress appropriated $100,000 for "necessary expenditures incident to the occupation and utilization of the naval station at Guantánamo, Cuba" in 1903.
8. 08Lease Agreement: President Theodore Roosevelt signed an original lease agreement with Cuba for a naval base at Guantánamo Bay in 1903.
9. 09Cuban-American Treaty: The Cuban-American Treaty of Relations of 1903 reaffirmed the provisions allowing the U.S. to intervene in local affairs and establish naval bases on land leased or purchased from the Cuban government.
10. 10Dry Dock Construction: An appropriation of $385,500 was made for an emergency repair installation at Guantánamo Bay, including a dry dock to be built on South Toro Cay in 1904.
11. 11Work Discontinuation: Work on the dry dock on South Toro Cay was discontinued in 1906.
12. 12U.S. Troops Deployment: In 1906, President Roosevelt sent U.S. troops to Cuba to crush a revolt, thus bringing about the second U.S. occupation of Cuba, which lasted until 1909.
13. 13Station Ship USS Monongahela: The station ship USS Monongahela burned in 1908.

Mid-20th Century: Military and Political Significance

Guantanamo Bay continued to grow in importance through the mid-20th century, with visits from U.S. presidents and significant military activities.

14. 14LT John H. Towers: LT John H. Towers flew from Guantánamo Bay to Santiago in a Curtiss flying boat in 46 minutes on March 10, 1913.
15. 15Naval Station Opening: The Naval Station was officially opened at its present location on December 10, 1913.
16. 16Atlantic and Pacific Fleets Concentration: The first concentration of Atlantic and Pacific Fleets in the Caribbean took place in 1924.
17. 17Hurricane Damage: The Naval Station was damaged by a hurricane in 1928, whose center passed 50 miles (80.5 km) to the south.
18. 18Hepburn Board Recommendations: The Hepburn Board visited the Station in 1938 and made recommendations for expansion.
19. 19President Franklin D. Roosevelt Visit: President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited Guantánamo Bay in USS Houston on February 20, 1939.
20. 20Station Water Supply: The Station started receiving water from a pumping station at Yateras River via a new pipeline on July 1, 1939.
21. 21President Roosevelt Visit (1940): President Roosevelt visited Guantánamo Bay in USS Tuscaloosa on December 4, 1940.
22. 22Construction Program: A contract was signed with Frederick Snare Corporation to begin a vast construction program for the build-up of the Station on July 12, 1940.
23. 23Naval Operating Base Establishment: The Naval Operating Base, Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, was established on April 1, 1941.
24. 24President Harry S. Truman Visit: President Harry S. Truman visited the Base on February 25, 1948.
25. 25Title Change: The title of Naval Operating Base was changed to Naval Base on June 18, 1952.

Guantanamo Bay as a Detention Center

In the 21st century, Guantanamo Bay became infamous as a detention center for terrorism suspects, sparking global controversy.

26. 26US Detention of HIV-Positive Refugees: The US detention of HIV-positive refugees at Guantánamo Bay was declared unconstitutional on June 8, 1993.
27. 27Presidential Visits: Many distinguished people have visited the Naval Base, including General John J. Pershing and Charles A. Lindbergh.
28. 28Global War on Terrorism: The Guantanamo Bay detention camp was established in January 2002 by U.S. President George W. Bush to hold terrorism suspects and "illegal enemy combatants" during the Global War on Terrorism.
29. 29Camp X-Ray: A temporary detention facility dubbed "Camp X-Ray" was created in January 2002 to house suspected Al-Qaeda members and Taliban fighters primarily captured in Afghanistan.
30. 30Camp Delta: The main detention compound, Camp Delta, replaced Camp X-Ray in April 2002, with other compounds including Camp Echo, Camp Iguana, and the Guantanamo psychiatric ward.
31. 31Detainee Numbers: Since January 2002, 779 men have been brought to Guantanamo, with nearly 200 released by mid-2004.
32. 32Detainee Nationalities: Afghans were the largest group (29 percent), followed by Saudi Arabians (17 percent), Yemenis (15 percent), Pakistanis (9 percent), and Algerians (3 percent).
33. 33Detainee Capture Methods: The vast majority of detainees were not captured by U.S. forces but were sold to the U.S. for bounties, with over 80% captured by Pakistanis and Afghans in exchange for bounty payments.
34. 34Detainee Conditions: Detainees were housed in unfit conditions and routinely abused and tortured, often in the form of "enhanced interrogation techniques."
35. 35Habeas Corpus: The U.S. Department of Justice claimed that habeas corpus did not apply to Guantanamo Bay because it was outside U.S. territory, a claim later disputed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
36. 36Detainee Rights: The Bush administration maintained that detainees had no rights under the U.S. Constitution or the Geneva Conventions, a position later challenged by various humanitarian and legal advocacy groups.
37. 37Supreme Court Decisions: Several landmark U.S. Supreme Court decisions found that detainees had rights to due process and habeas corpus but were still subject to military tribunals, which remain controversial for allegedly lacking impartiality, independence, and judicial efficiency.
38. 38Detainee Deaths: At least 9 men have died in custody at Guantanamo Bay without ever being charged with a crime.
39. 39Detainee Releases: Over 90% of Guantanamo detainees have been released without charge, with 730 men released after enduring years of suffering and abuse.
40. 40Detainee Convictions: Only 8 men have ever been convicted, and 4 of these convictions have since been reversed.
41. 41Detainee Abuse: Detainees have been subjected to horrifying torture and abuse, including Mohammed El Gharani, who was just 14 years old when he was taken there and was tortured despite being a child.
42. 42Detainee Transfers: The Final Report of the Guantanamo Review Task Force, dated January 22, 2010, published the results for the 240 detainees subject to the review: 36 were the subject of active cases or investigations; 30 detainees from Yemen were designated for "conditional detention" due to the poor security environment in Yemen; 126 detainees were approved for transfer; 48 detainees were determined "too dangerous to transfer but not feasible for prosecution."
43. 43Detainee Costs: It costs the U.S. taxpayer $445 million a year to keep the remaining 40 detainees held in Guantanamo, making it possibly the world’s most expensive prison.
44. 44Detainee Mistakes: The vast majority of detainees were low-level offenders who were not affiliated with organizations on U.S. terrorist lists, as acknowledged by a 2003 memo by then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.
45. 45Detainee Interrogation Techniques: The CIA operated a small site, known informally as "Penny Lane," to house prisoners whom the agency attempted to recruit as spies against Al-Qaeda, with conditions that were less sparse compared to the rest of the detention center.
46. 46Detainee Camps: Camp 7, a separate facility on the naval base, was considered the highest security jail on the base and held detainees previously imprisoned in a global, clandestine network of CIA prisons. It was shut down in early April 2021 due to deteriorating conditions.
47. 47Detainee Medical Facilities: A portion of Camp 5 was dedicated to use as a medical facility for detainees in September 2016, and later re-dedicated in early April 2021 when Camp 7 detainees were moved there.
48. 48Detainee Legal Representation: Reprieve’s founder Clive Stafford Smith and two other lawyers successfully challenged President Bush in the Supreme Court, securing access to Guantanamo and representing the prisoners held there. They have secured the release of over 80 detainees.
49. 49Detainee Death Penalty: All the detainees initially faced the death penalty, with Clive Stafford Smith having spent 25 years defending people on death rows in America’s Deep South before turning to Guantanamo.
50. 50Detainee Symbolism: Guantanamo Bay has become a global symbol of injustice, standing for torture, abuse, and indefinite detention, despite efforts to suppress the truth about the facility.

The Complex Legacy of Guantanamo Bay

Guantanamo Bay, with its long history and controversial role, remains a significant yet contentious part of modern geopolitics. Established in 1898, this naval base has seen everything from strategic military operations to the detention of terrorism suspects. The base's strategic location, historical events, and the infamous detention camp have made it a focal point of international debate. Over the years, Guantanamo has been a symbol of both security and human rights violations. The detention camp, in particular, has faced criticism for its treatment of detainees and the legal gray areas surrounding their rights. Despite efforts to close the facility, it continues to operate, costing taxpayers millions annually. Guantanamo Bay's story is far from over, and its legacy will continue to shape discussions on military strategy, human rights, and international law for years to come.