U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) called for assurances on Wednesday that the Obama administration would not transfer the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base (GTMO) to Cuba.
Thornberry, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, called for the assurances in letters to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, Secretary of State John Kerry and National Security Advisor Susan Rice.
“In his news conference Monday, Secretary Carter assured reporters that ‘we intend to hold on to it,’ in response to questions about the president’s intentions toward GTMO,” Thornberry said. “His answer was less equivocal than his administration colleagues. Still, as we learned with the Taliban Five investigation, even seemingly direct statements are subject to reinterpretation by White House lawyers.”
In a letter to Carter, Thornberry noted that Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes recently said that the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base would be “part of the discussion” during the president’s planned trip to Cuba.
“The Navy Base at Guantanamo Bay is vital,” Thornberry said. “I see no argument whatsoever for its abandonment being in our national security interest.”
Thornberry’s letter asked if there had been “any actual or contemplated action, effort, initiative, discussion or plan” by the executive branch to change the status of the naval station. The letter also requested a detailed description of any such action or discussions related to a transfer of the naval base.