Uruguay President Conditions Gitmo Transfers on Releasing Cubans

Uruguayan President Jose Mujica today discussed plans for his country to accept multiple detainees from Guantanamo Bay, saying his offer to do so included a request for the US to release detained Cuban spies.

Mujica said the talk on the Gitmo detainees was “far from over,” and added that the detentions of the Cuban prisoners was also “shameful” and should be resolved at the same time.

The White House responded with a statement saying they consider Mujica a “valuable partner,” and insisted they are “not aware” of the request for the Cubans, even though it was made very publicly.

Other US officials confirmed Uruguay and other nations had been approached about Gitmo detainees, though they similarly refused to discuss any specific details.

Author: Jason Ditz

Jason Ditz is Senior Editor for Antiwar.com. He has 20 years of experience in foreign policy research and his work has appeared in The American Conservative, Responsible Statecraft, Forbes, Toronto Star, Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Providence Journal, Washington Times, and the Detroit Free Press.