NAS Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

• Oldest Overseas U.S. Naval Base: Naval Station Guantanamo Bay (NSGB), commonly known as "Gitmo," is the oldest overseas U.S. Navy base, established in 1903. • Spanish–American War Origins: The U.S. first occupied Guantanamo Bay during the Spanish–American War in 1898, using it as a strategic staging area. • Perpetual Lease: The U.S. holds the land under a lease agreement with Cuba, signed in 1903 and modified in 1934, requiring annual payments of $4,085, which the Cuban government has refused to cash since 1959. • “Cactus Curtain”: After the Cuban Revolution, Cuba planted dense cactus barriers along the base's fence line to prevent defections, dubbed the "Cactus Curtain," mirroring the “Iron Curtain” in Europe. • Historic Airfields: NAS Guantanamo Bay was commissioned in 1941 and played a key role during World War II as an anti-submarine and convoy support base. • Bay of Pigs and Cuban Missile Crisis: The base was on high alert during both the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 and the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, serving as a critical forward operating point. • Refugee Crises: NSGB has served as a processing and holding center for refugees, including Haitian and Cuban migrants, most notably in the 1990s. • Unique Wildlife: The base is home to some rare iguana and Cuban hutia populations, both of which are protected and have adapted to the base environment. • Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp: Since 2002, part of the base houses the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, drawing significant international attention and controversy. • Isolation and Community: Due to its location and political situation, the base operates as a semi-isolated community with its own schools, radio stations, and even a McDonald's, the only one in Cuba.