Embassy of the United States, Havana: Difference between revisions

Embassy of the United States, Havana
Embassy of the United States, Havana
Native name; Spanish: Embajada de los Estados Unidos de América, La Habana
	; Chancery Building as seen during President Barack Obama's visit to Cuba. This used to be the US Interests Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Havana, Cuba. Between 1977 and 2015, Switzerland was the protecting power of the United States in Cuba.
Location	Vedado, Plaza de la Revolución, Havana, Cuba
Coordinates	23°08′45″N 82°23′16″W / 23.14587°N 82.38765°W
	Location of Embassy of the United States, Havana in Cuba

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The Embassy of the United States of America in Havana (Spanish: Embajada de los Estados Unidos de América, La Habana) is the United States of America's diplomatic mission in Cuba. On January 3, 1961, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower severed relations following the Cuban Revolution of the 1950s.^[1] In 1977, U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Cuban leader Fidel Castro signed an Interests Sections Agreement that permitted each government to operate from its former embassy in Havana and Washington D.C., which were called Interests Sections; they were prohibited from flying their respective flags. Cuban President Raúl Castro and U.S. President Barack Obama restored full diplomatic connections on July 20, 2015.^[2]^[3]^[4]

The building housed the United States Interests Section in Havana between 1977 and 2015, which operated under the auspices of the Swiss Embassy (acting as protecting power). On July 1, 2015, it was announced that with the resumption of diplomatic ties, the building resumed its role as the U.S. Embassy in Cuba on July 20, 2015.^[5]^[6]^[7]^[8]

After the emergence of Havana syndrome in 2017, the United States withdrew most of the personnel from the embassy, so by July 2018 only 10 American diplomats were left to maintain the diplomatic service.^[9] The reduction of staffing also resulted in declining availability of embassy services. The Biden Administration plans on expanding staff at the embassy to resume full scale processing of immigrant visa services beginning in early 2023.^[10] The embassy is led by Chargé d'Affaires Benjamin G. Ziff.^[11]

History

The current embassy was designed in the Modernist-Brutalist style by the architectural firm Harrison & Abramovitz. The seven-story concrete and glass building was completed in 1953. The gardens were designed by Californian landscape architect Thomas Dolliver Church. The contractor for the building was Jaime Alberto Mitrani, PE, also a professor of civil engineering at the University of Havana. The embassy complex is located directly on the Malecón facing the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Platform and in proximity to the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After the U.S. diplomatic mission became defunct in 1961, the building was not used by American personnel until the opening of the interests section on September 1, 1977.^[12] In 1963, Prime Minister of Cuba Fidel Castro ordered the confiscation of the complex, but action was never taken by the Cuban government, though it still claimed right to the property in 2012.^[13]

During the period that the complex served as an interests section, the U.S. was represented by Switzerland, and the Swiss maintained both the embassy complex and its effects. Renovations were completed on the complex in 1997.

The building was upgraded from an interests section and returned to its original role as the United States Embassy in Cuba, on July 20, 2015.^[5]^[6]^[7]^[14] On August 14, 2015, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry officially reopened it; eight congressional lawmakers involved in the policy change attended,^[15]^[16]^[17] and the three Marines (Larry C. Morris, Mike East and Jim Tracy) who had lowered the U.S. flag at the embassy 54 years earlier presented a new flag, which was then raised by Marines assigned to the post.^[18]

In May 2022 a $28 million renovation project of the Embassy building was launched. The renovation project ran into several problems like visa issues for U.S. workers and technicians as well as supply shortages and fuel quality issues.^[19]

Health-related incidents

In August 2017, reports began surfacing that Americans posted at the embassy had been subjected to health-related incidents, dating back to late 2016.^[20]^[21] Two dozen employees of the State Department reported experiencing what were referred to as "health attacks".^[21] The State Department determined that the health problems may have been the result of an attack or else exposure to an as-yet-unknown device,^[22] and did not believe the Cuban government is responsible.^[23] Affected individuals described mild brain damage similar to a concussion and symptoms such as temporary or permanent hearing loss, memory loss, and nausea.^[22] Speculation has centered around a sonic or ultrasonic weapon,^[24] but the scientific consensus is that the use of a sonic weapon is implausible.^[25]^[26] Timothy Leighton, an expert in ultrasonics, has said "If you're talking about a ray-gun rifle knocking out someone with ultrasound they can't hear at a hundred meters – that's not going to happen".^[27]

The United States expelled two Cuban diplomats in response to the attacks;^[20] the Cuban government offered to cooperate with the US in an investigation of the incidents.^[28] In September, the US State Department stated that it was removing non-emergency staff from the US embassy, and warned US citizens not to travel to Cuba.^[29] In October 2017, the Associated Press released what it claimed was a recording of the sound some embassy workers heard during the attacks.^[30] However, senior neurologists consulted by The Guardian suggested that the health incidents were probably psychosomatic complaints, of the kind commonly known as mass hysteria.^[31] In December 2017, investigators discovered abnormalities in the victims' brains. The white matter of the brains showed physical changes which doctors believe could not have been caused by sound. They are now avoiding the term "sonic" to describe the attacks and there is growing skepticism it was caused by a sonic device; rather, it's possible that the sound heard by victims was a by-product of the brain damage.^[32] In a 2018 paper published in JAMA, a team of medical researchers at the University of Pennsylvania all but ruled out a sonic weapon and said they could not find the source of the ailments experienced by the embassy staff. They said that the report by the Associated Press claiming researchers had found damage to white matter in the brains of the patients was wrong and that there was no such damage.^[33] In January 2019 a study of a recording of the sound heard by embassy staff was released by Alexander Stubbs, a graduate student at the University of California, Berkeley, and Fernando Montealegre-Zapata, a professor of sensory biology at the University of Lincoln. The study found that the sound matched the mating song of the Indies short-tailed cricket found around the Caribbean. The researchers did not examine the cause of the diplomats' ailments and did not rule out a sonic attack "at another point".^[34]

James Lewis, a former State Department official and intelligence expert, stated: "We know with 100% certainly that the embassies are under surveillance, and the technology being used could just be crude and over-powered"; he noted that health problems at the US embassy in Moscow in the 1970s were thought to be linked to the use of microwave surveillance devices.^[35]

Notes

^ The U.S. and Cuba did not have bilateral diplomatic relations between 1961 and 2015. During this period, the U.S. diplomatic mission in Cuba operated under the auspices of the Embassy of Switzerland.

References

^ United States severs diplomatic relations with Cuba Archived July 4, 2014, at the Wayback Machine History.
^ "Obama moves to restored diplomatic relations at the embassy level on 2014. with Cuba". MSNBC. December 17, 2014. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015.
^ "Obama opens doors to Cuba after 56 years". USA Today. December 17, 2014. Archived from the original on June 6, 2015.
^ "U.S., Cuba restore ties after 50 years". Reuters. December 18, 2014. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
^ ^a ^b "U.S. and Cuba to announce embassy openings". CNN. June 30, 2015. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015.
^ ^a ^b "U.S. and Cuba to reopen embassies". Politico. June 30, 2015. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015.
^ ^a ^b "US proposes US, Cuba reopen embassies as of July 20: Havana". Business Insider. July 1, 2015. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2015.
^ "Cuban flag flies at embassy in Washington". USA Today. July 20, 2015. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015.
^ Delk, Josh (April 7, 2018). "Only 10 diplomatic staff left at US Embassy in Cuba". The Hill. Retrieved February 11, 2019.
^ "U.S. adding embassy staff in Havana to 'resume full immigrant visa processing'". Miami Herald. September 21, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.
^ "Chargé d'Affaires Benjamin G. Ziff". US Embassy in Cuba. Retrieved August 15, 2022.
^ Talking to the Bearded Man: The Swiss Mandate to Represent U.S. Interests in Cuba, 1961–1977. Archived July 29, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies.
^ Havana's New York Accent. Archived August 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine The New York Times.
^ "U.S. and Cuba Reopen Long-Closed Embassies". The New York Times. July 20, 2015. Archived from the original on July 20, 2015.
^ Weissenstein, Michael; Klapper, Bradley (August 14, 2015). "John Kerry in Cuba as flag raised over U.S. Embassy". Global News. Archived from the original on August 15, 2015.
^ Labott, Elise (August 14, 2015). "Kerry to reopen embassy in Cuba but tensions remain". CNN. Archived from the original on August 17, 2015.
^ Karoun Demirjian (August 14, 2015). "Cuba congressional delegation: Who traveled with John Kerry to Havana". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 15, 2015.
^ Gordon, Michael (August 14, 2015). "Kerry Strikes Delicate Balance in Havana Trip for Embassy Flag-Raising". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 14, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2015.
^ "U.S. gives Havana embassy a facelift after years of neglect". Denver Gazette. June 10, 2023. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
^ ^a ^b Neuman, Scott (August 9, 2017). "Cuban Diplomats Expelled After U.S. Embassy Staff 'Incidents' In Havana". NPR. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
^ ^a ^b Connor, Tracy; Murray, Mary; Williams, Abigail (September 17, 2017). "Victim of Cuba embassy 'attacks' frustrated by response". NBC News. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
^ ^a ^b Doubek, James. "At Least 16 U.S. Embassy Staff In Cuba Treated After 'Health Attacks'". NPR.
^ U.S. does not believe Cuba is behind sonic attacks on American diplomats. McClatchy News Service, 26 September 2017
^ Chavez, Nicole (August 10, 2017). "Using sound to attack: The diverse world of acoustic devices". CNN.
^ Zimmer, Carl (October 6, 2017). "What's a Science Reporter to Do When Sound Evidence Isn't Sound?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 13, 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
^ Coady, David (October 13, 2017). "Revealed: The mysterious sound heard by US diplomatic staff in Cuba". abc.net.au. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
^ Zimmer, Carl (October 5, 2017). "A 'Sonic Attack' on Diplomats in Cuba? These Scientists Doubt It". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 13, 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2017.
^ "Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba%7cCubaMINREX". Archived from the original on April 7, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2017.
^ Rich Edson (September 29, 2017). "US stops issuing visas in Cuba, cuts embassy staff, urges no travel to island". Fox News. Retrieved October 1, 2017.
^ "Dangerous sound? What Americans heard in Cuba attacks". AP News. Retrieved October 12, 2017.
^ Julian Borger and Philip Jaekl (October 12, 2017). "Mass hysteria may explain 'sonic attacks' in Cuba, say top neurologists". The Guardian. Retrieved October 14, 2017.
^ Josh Lederman (December 6, 2017). "Doctors find brain abnormalities in victims of Cuba mystery". AP News. AP News. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
^ Yirka, Bob (February 28, 2018). "New research suggests sonic weapon not likely in Cuban embassy employee illnesses". Medical Xpress. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
^ "Cuban crickets, not weapon, heard by ill US diplomats: study". Science X. January 7, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2019.
^ Borger, Julian (August 25, 2017). "Botched surveillance job may have led to strange injuries at US embassy in Cuba". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved October 26, 2017.

External links

[1] The U.S. and Cuba did not have bilateral diplomatic relations between 1961 and 2015. During this period, the U.S. diplomatic mission in Cuba operated under the auspices of the Embassy of Switzerland.

[2] United States severs diplomatic relations with Cuba Archived July 4, 2014, at the Wayback Machine History.

[3] "Obama moves to restored diplomatic relations at the embassy level on 2014. with Cuba". MSNBC. December 17, 2014. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015.

[4] "Obama opens doors to Cuba after 56 years". USA Today. December 17, 2014. Archived from the original on June 6, 2015.

[5] "U.S., Cuba restore ties after 50 years". Reuters. December 18, 2014. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.

[cnne-6] "U.S. and Cuba to announce embassy openings". CNN. June 30, 2015. Archived from the original on July 1, 2015.

[pole-7] "U.S. and Cuba to reopen embassies". Politico. June 30, 2015. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015.

[reopen-8] "US proposes US, Cuba reopen embassies as of July 20: Havana". Business Insider. July 1, 2015. Archived from the original on September 5, 2018. Retrieved July 1, 2015.

[9] "Cuban flag flies at embassy in Washington". USA Today. July 20, 2015. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015.

[10] Delk, Josh (April 7, 2018). "Only 10 diplomatic staff left at US Embassy in Cuba". The Hill. Retrieved February 11, 2019.

[11] "U.S. adding embassy staff in Havana to 'resume full immigrant visa processing'". Miami Herald. September 21, 2022. Retrieved October 7, 2022.

[12] "Chargé d'Affaires Benjamin G. Ziff". US Embassy in Cuba. Retrieved August 15, 2022.

[13] Talking to the Bearded Man: The Swiss Mandate to Represent U.S. Interests in Cuba, 1961–1977. Archived July 29, 2014, at the Wayback Machine Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies.

[14] Havana's New York Accent. Archived August 10, 2014, at the Wayback Machine The New York Times.

[15] "U.S. and Cuba Reopen Long-Closed Embassies". The New York Times. July 20, 2015. Archived from the original on July 20, 2015.

[16] Weissenstein, Michael; Klapper, Bradley (August 14, 2015). "John Kerry in Cuba as flag raised over U.S. Embassy". Global News. Archived from the original on August 15, 2015.

[17] Labott, Elise (August 14, 2015). "Kerry to reopen embassy in Cuba but tensions remain". CNN. Archived from the original on August 17, 2015.

[18] Karoun Demirjian (August 14, 2015). "Cuba congressional delegation: Who traveled with John Kerry to Havana". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 15, 2015.

[19] Gordon, Michael (August 14, 2015). "Kerry Strikes Delicate Balance in Havana Trip for Embassy Flag-Raising". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 14, 2015. Retrieved August 15, 2015.

[20] "U.S. gives Havana embassy a facelift after years of neglect". Denver Gazette. June 10, 2023. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved June 10, 2023.

[NPRaug2017-21] Neuman, Scott (August 9, 2017). "Cuban Diplomats Expelled After U.S. Embassy Staff 'Incidents' In Havana". NPR. Retrieved October 1, 2017.

[nbcnews.com-22] Connor, Tracy; Murray, Mary; Williams, Abigail (September 17, 2017). "Victim of Cuba embassy 'attacks' frustrated by response". NBC News. Retrieved October 1, 2017.

[npr.org-23] Doubek, James. "At Least 16 U.S. Embassy Staff In Cuba Treated After 'Health Attacks'". NPR.

[McClatchy-24] U.S. does not believe Cuba is behind sonic attacks on American diplomats. McClatchy News Service, 26 September 2017

[25] Chavez, Nicole (August 10, 2017). "Using sound to attack: The diverse world of acoustic devices". CNN.

[26] Zimmer, Carl (October 6, 2017). "What's a Science Reporter to Do When Sound Evidence Isn't Sound?". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 13, 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2017.

[27] Coady, David (October 13, 2017). "Revealed: The mysterious sound heard by US diplomatic staff in Cuba". abc.net.au. Retrieved October 13, 2017.

[28] Zimmer, Carl (October 5, 2017). "A 'Sonic Attack' on Diplomats in Cuba? These Scientists Doubt It". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 13, 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2017.

[29] "Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba%7cCubaMINREX". Archived from the original on April 7, 2018. Retrieved September 20, 2017.

[30] Rich Edson (September 29, 2017). "US stops issuing visas in Cuba, cuts embassy staff, urges no travel to island". Fox News. Retrieved October 1, 2017.

[31] "Dangerous sound? What Americans heard in Cuba attacks". AP News. Retrieved October 12, 2017.

[32] Julian Borger and Philip Jaekl (October 12, 2017). "Mass hysteria may explain 'sonic attacks' in Cuba, say top neurologists". The Guardian. Retrieved October 14, 2017.

[33] Josh Lederman (December 6, 2017). "Doctors find brain abnormalities in victims of Cuba mystery". AP News. AP News. Retrieved December 7, 2017.

[34] Yirka, Bob (February 28, 2018). "New research suggests sonic weapon not likely in Cuban embassy employee illnesses". Medical Xpress. Retrieved January 11, 2019.

[35] "Cuban crickets, not weapon, heard by ill US diplomats: study". Science X. January 7, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2019.

[Guardian-36] Borger, Julian (August 25, 2017). "Botched surveillance job may have led to strange injuries at US embassy in Cuba". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved October 26, 2017.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|American diplomatic mission in the capital of Cuba}}
 {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2017}}
 <!--This article focuses on the embassy building itself and not the diplomatic mission, a topic covered by the interests section article.-->
-{{Infobox Historic Site
+{{Infobox historic site
 | name = Embassy of the United States, Havana
 | native_name = Embajada de los Estados Unidos de América, La Habana
@@ Line 7: / Line 8: @@
 | image = [[File:Seal of an Embassy of the United States of America.svg|100px]]<br/>[[File:U.S. Flag Flaps Outside U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba (25998479275).jpg|250px]]
 | caption = {{small|Chancery Building as seen during President [[Barack Obama|Barack Obama's]] visit to Cuba. This used to be the US Interests Section of the Embassy of Switzerland in Havana, Cuba. Between 1977 and 2015, Switzerland was the protecting power of the United States in Cuba.}}
-| location = [[Havana]], [[Cuba]]
+| location = [[Vedado]], [[Plaza de la Revolución]], [[Havana]], [[Cuba]]
 | coordinates = {{coord|23.14587|-82.38765|display=inline,title}}
 | locmapin = Cuba
@@ Line 14: / Line 15: @@
 | designation1_free2name = Interests Section
 | designation1_free2value = September 1, 1977 – July 20, 2015<ref group="note">The U.S. and Cuba did not have bilateral diplomatic relations between 1961 and 2015. During this period, the U.S. diplomatic mission in Cuba operated under the auspices of the [[Foreign relations of Switzerland|Embassy of Switzerland]].</ref>
-| designation1_free3name = Chargé d'affaires ''ad interim''
+| designation1_free3name = ''Chargé d'affaires'' ''ad interim''
 | designation1_free3value = Mara Tekach
 }}
-The '''Embassy of the United States of America in Havana''' is the [[United States|United States of America]]'s [[diplomatic mission]] in [[Cuba]]. On January 3, 1961, [[President of the United States|US President]] [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] severed relations following the [[Cuban Revolution]] of the 1950s.<ref>[http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-severs-diplomatic-relations-with-cuba United States severs diplomatic relations with Cuba] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704134259/http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-severs-diplomatic-relations-with-cuba |date=July 4, 2014 }} History.</ref> In 1977, President Jimmy Carter and Fidel Castro signed an Interests Sections Agreement that permitted each government to operate out of its former embassy in Havana and Washington D.C., which were called Interests Sections; they were prohibited from flying  their respective flags.   [[President of Cuba|Cuban President]] [[Raúl Castro]] and US President [[Barack Obama]] [[Cuban thaw|restored full diplomatic connections]] on July 20, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/obama-moves-end-cuban-embargo|title=Obama moves to restored diplomatic relations at the embassy level on 2014. with Cuba|date=December 17, 2014|publisher=[[MSNBC]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701090723/http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/obama-moves-end-cuban-embargo|archive-date=July 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/12/17/obama-cuba-alan-gross-prisoner/20526497/|title=Obama opens doors to Cuba after 56 years|date=December 17, 2014|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150606102050/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/12/17/obama-cuba-alan-gross-prisoner/20526497/|archive-date=June 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/18/us-cuba-usa-gross-idUSKBN0JV1H520141218|title=U.S., Cuba restore ties after 50 years|date=December 18, 2014|publisher=[[Reuters]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924211619/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/18/us-cuba-usa-gross-idUSKBN0JV1H520141218|archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref>
+The '''Embassy of the United States of America in Havana''' ({{lang-es|Embajada de los Estados Unidos de América, La Habana}}) is the [[United States|United States of America]]'s [[diplomatic mission]] in [[Cuba]]. On January 3, 1961, [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] severed relations following the [[Cuban Revolution]] of the 1950s.<ref>[http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-severs-diplomatic-relations-with-cuba United States severs diplomatic relations with Cuba] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140704134259/http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/united-states-severs-diplomatic-relations-with-cuba |date=July 4, 2014 }} History.</ref> In 1977, U.S. President [[Jimmy Carter]] and Cuban leader [[Fidel Castro]] signed an Interests Sections Agreement that permitted each government to operate from its former [[embassy]] in [[Havana]] and [[Washington D.C.]], which were called Interests Sections; they were prohibited from flying  their respective flags. [[President of Cuba|Cuban President]] [[Raúl Castro]] and U.S. President [[Barack Obama]] [[Cuban thaw|restored full diplomatic connections]] on July 20, 2015.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/obama-moves-end-cuban-embargo|title=Obama moves to restored diplomatic relations at the embassy level on 2014. with Cuba|date=December 17, 2014|publisher=[[MSNBC]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701090723/http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/obama-moves-end-cuban-embargo|archive-date=July 1, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/12/17/obama-cuba-alan-gross-prisoner/20526497/|title=Obama opens doors to Cuba after 56 years|date=December 17, 2014|newspaper=[[USA Today]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150606102050/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2014/12/17/obama-cuba-alan-gross-prisoner/20526497/|archive-date=June 6, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cuba-usa-gross-idUSKBN0JV1H520141218|title=U.S., Cuba restore ties after 50 years|date=December 18, 2014|publisher=[[Reuters]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924211619/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/18/us-cuba-usa-gross-idUSKBN0JV1H520141218|archive-date=September 24, 2015}}</ref>
-The building housed the [[United States Interests Section in Havana]] between 1977 and 2015, which operated under the auspices of the [[Foreign relations of Switzerland|Swiss Embassy]] (acting as [[protecting power]]). On July 1, 2015 it was announced that with the resumption of diplomatic ties, the building resumed its role as the U.S. Embassy in Cuba on July 20, 2015.<ref name="cnne">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/30/politics/u-s-cuba-embassy-relationship/index.html|title=U.S. and Cuba to announce embassy openings|date=June 30, 2015|publisher=[[CNN]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701070030/http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/30/politics/u-s-cuba-embassy-relationship/index.html|archive-date=July 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name="pole">{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/us-and-cuba-to-re-open-embassies-119609.html?hp=l1_3|title=U.S. and Cuba to reopen embassies|date=June 30, 2015|publisher=[[Politico]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702092847/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/us-and-cuba-to-re-open-embassies-119609.html?hp=l1_3|archive-date=July 2, 2015}}</ref><ref name="reopen">{{cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-us-proposes-us-cuba-reopen-embassies-as-of-july-20-havana-2015-7|title=US proposes US, Cuba reopen embassies as of July 20: Havana|date=July 1, 2015|publisher=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/07/20/cuban-embassy-opens-washington/30409717/|title=Cuban flag flies at embassy in Washington|date=July 20, 2015|work=[[USA Today]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722002616/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/07/20/cuban-embassy-opens-washington/30409717/|archive-date=July 22, 2015}}</ref>
+The building housed the [[United States Interests Section in Havana]] between 1977 and 2015, which operated under the auspices of the [[Foreign relations of Switzerland|Swiss Embassy]] (acting as [[protecting power]]). On July 1, 2015, it was announced that with the resumption of diplomatic ties, the building resumed its role as the U.S. Embassy in Cuba on July 20, 2015.<ref name="cnne">{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/30/politics/u-s-cuba-embassy-relationship/index.html|title=U.S. and Cuba to announce embassy openings|date=June 30, 2015|publisher=[[CNN]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701070030/http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/30/politics/u-s-cuba-embassy-relationship/index.html|archive-date=July 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name="pole">{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/us-and-cuba-to-re-open-embassies-119609.html?hp=l1_3|title=U.S. and Cuba to reopen embassies|date=June 30, 2015|publisher=[[Politico]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150702092847/http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/us-and-cuba-to-re-open-embassies-119609.html?hp=l1_3|archive-date=July 2, 2015}}</ref><ref name="reopen">{{cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-us-proposes-us-cuba-reopen-embassies-as-of-july-20-havana-2015-7|title=US proposes US, Cuba reopen embassies as of July 20: Havana|date=July 1, 2015|publisher=[[Business Insider]]|access-date=July 1, 2015|archive-date=September 5, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905065252/https://www.businessinsider.com/afp-us-proposes-us-cuba-reopen-embassies-as-of-july-20-havana-2015-7|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/07/20/cuban-embassy-opens-washington/30409717/|title=Cuban flag flies at embassy in Washington|date=July 20, 2015|work=[[USA Today]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722002616/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2015/07/20/cuban-embassy-opens-washington/30409717/|archive-date=July 22, 2015}}</ref>
-After the allegations of sonic attacks surfaced in 2017, United States withdrew most of the personnel from the embassy, so by July 2018 only 10 American diplomats were left to maintain the diplomatic service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/382099-only-10-diplomatic-staff-left-at-us-embassy-in-cuba|title=Only 10 diplomatic staff left at US Embassy in Cuba|last=Delk|first=Josh|date=2018-04-07|website=TheHill|language=en|access-date=2019-02-11}}</ref> The embassy is led by [[Chargé d'affaires]] ''[[ad interim]]'' [[Ambassador]] Timothy Zúñiga-Brown.<ref name="state.gov">{{cite web|url=https://cu.usembassy.gov/embassy/havana/charge-daffaires/|title=Chargé d'Affaires - U.S. Embassy in Cuba|access-date=July 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170820203418/https://cu.usembassy.gov/embassy/havana/charge-daffaires/|archive-date=August 20, 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://photos.state.gov/libraries/havana/231771/PDFs_001/US-Embassy-Havana-July-20-Press-Statement.pdf|title=Re-establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the United States and Cuba|date=July 20, 2015|publisher=[[United States Department of State]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225053907/https://photos.state.gov/libraries/havana/231771/PDFs_001/US-Embassy-Havana-July-20-Press-Statement.pdf|archive-date=February 25, 2017}}</ref>
+After the emergence of [[Havana syndrome]] in 2017, the United States withdrew most of the personnel from the embassy, so by July 2018 only 10 American diplomats were left to maintain the diplomatic service.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/policy/international/382099-only-10-diplomatic-staff-left-at-us-embassy-in-cuba|title=Only 10 diplomatic staff left at US Embassy in Cuba|last=Delk|first=Josh|date=2018-04-07|website=[[The Hill (newspaper)|The Hill]]|language=en|access-date=2019-02-11}}</ref> The reduction of staffing also resulted in declining availability of embassy services. The [[Biden]] Administration plans on expanding staff at the embassy to resume full scale processing of immigrant visa services beginning in early 2023.<ref>{{Cite news|title=U.S. adding embassy staff in Havana to 'resume full immigrant visa processing'|url=https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/cuba/article266121821.html|publisher=[[Miami Herald]]|date=September 21, 2022|access-date=October 7, 2022}}</ref> The embassy is led by [[Chargé d'Affaires]] [[Benjamin G. Ziff]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cu.usembassy.gov/our-relationship/charge-daffaires/|title=Chargé d'Affaires Benjamin G. Ziff|publisher=US Embassy in Cuba|access-date=15 August 2022}}</ref>
 ==History==
 [[File:Havanna 1973 buidling of the former US embassy.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Embassy on the [[Malecón, Havana|Malecón]] in the distance beyond the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Platform, ca. 1973.]]
-The current [[Diplomatic mission|embassy]] was designed in the [[Modern architecture|Modernist]]—[[Brutalist architecture|Brutalist style]] by the architectural firm [[Harrison & Abramovitz]]. It is a long and six-story concrete and glass building, completed in 1953. The gardens were designed by Californian [[landscape architect]] [[Thomas Dolliver Church]]. The contractor for the building was Jaime Alberto Mitrani, PE, also a professor of civil engineering at the University of Havana. The embassy complex is located directly on the Malecón and the [[José Martí Anti-Imperialist Platform]], in proximity to the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cuba)|Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs]].
-After the U.S. diplomatic mission became defunct in 1961, the building was not used by American personnel until the opening of the interests section on September 1, 1977.<ref>[http://graduateinstitute.ch/files/live/sites/iheid/files/sites/international_history_politics/shared/working_papers/WPIHP-Fischer.pdf Talking to the Bearded Man: The Swiss Mandate to Represent U.S. Interests in Cuba, 1961–1977.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729112440/http://graduateinstitute.ch/files/live/sites/iheid/files/sites/international_history_politics/shared/working_papers/WPIHP-Fischer.pdf |date=July 29, 2014 }} [[Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies]].</ref> In 1963, [[Prime Minister of Cuba]] [[Fidel Castro]] ordered the confiscation of the complex, but action was never taken by the [[Politics of Cuba|Cuban government]], though it still claimed right to the property in 2012.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/realestate/cuba-streetscapes-the-new-york-accented-architecture-of-havana.html?_r=0 Havana's New York Accent.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810182411/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/realestate/cuba-streetscapes-the-new-york-accented-architecture-of-havana.html?_r=0 |date=August 10, 2014 }} ''New York Times''.</ref>
+The current [[Diplomatic mission|embassy]] was designed in the [[Modern architecture|Modernist]]-[[Brutalist architecture|Brutalist style]] by the architectural firm [[Harrison & Abramovitz]]. The seven-story concrete and glass building was completed in 1953. The gardens were designed by Californian [[landscape architect]] [[Thomas Dolliver Church]]. The contractor for the building was Jaime Alberto Mitrani, {{abbr|PE|Professional Engineer}}, also a professor of civil engineering at the University of Havana. The embassy complex is located directly on the Malecón facing the [[José Martí Anti-Imperialist Platform]] and in proximity to the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Cuba)|Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs]].
+After the U.S. diplomatic mission became defunct in 1961, the building was not used by American personnel until the opening of the interests section on September 1, 1977.<ref>[http://graduateinstitute.ch/files/live/sites/iheid/files/sites/international_history_politics/shared/working_papers/WPIHP-Fischer.pdf Talking to the Bearded Man: The Swiss Mandate to Represent U.S. Interests in Cuba, 1961–1977.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729112440/http://graduateinstitute.ch/files/live/sites/iheid/files/sites/international_history_politics/shared/working_papers/WPIHP-Fischer.pdf |date=July 29, 2014 }} [[Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies]].</ref> In 1963, [[Prime Minister of Cuba]] [[Fidel Castro]] ordered the confiscation of the complex, but action was never taken by the [[Politics of Cuba|Cuban government]], though it still claimed right to the property in 2012.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/realestate/cuba-streetscapes-the-new-york-accented-architecture-of-havana.html?_r=0 Havana's New York Accent.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140810182411/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/realestate/cuba-streetscapes-the-new-york-accented-architecture-of-havana.html?_r=0 |date=August 10, 2014 }} ''The New York Times''.</ref>
 During the period that the complex served as an interests section, the U.S. was represented by [[Switzerland]], and the Swiss maintained both the embassy complex and its effects. Renovations were completed on the complex in 1997.
-The building was upgraded from an interests section and returned to its original role as the United States Embassy in Cuba, on July 20, 2015.<ref name="cnne"/><ref name="pole"/><ref name="reopen"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/21/world/americas/cuba-us-embassy-diplomatic-relations.html|title=U.S. and Cuba Reopen Long-Closed Embassies|date=July 20, 2015|work=[[New York Times]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720151932/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/21/world/americas/cuba-us-embassy-diplomatic-relations.html|archive-date=July 20, 2015}}</ref> On August 14, 2015, [[United States Secretary of State|U.S. Secretary of State]] [[John Kerry]] officially reopened it; eight [[United States Congress|congressional]] lawmakers involved in the policy change attended,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/2165325/john-kerry-flies-to-cuba-to-raise-flag-at-newly-opened-u-s-embassy/|title=John Kerry in Cuba as flag raised over U.S. Embassy|first1=Michael |last1=Weissenstein |first2=Bradley|last2=Klapper|date=August 14, 2015|work=Global News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815054043/http://globalnews.ca/news/2165325/john-kerry-flies-to-cuba-to-raise-flag-at-newly-opened-u-s-embassy/|archive-date=August 15, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/14/politics/cuba-embassy-opening-john-kerry-visit/|title=Kerry to reopen embassy in Cuba but tensions remain|first=Elise|last=Labott|publisher=CNN|date=August 14, 2015|work=CNN|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817001809/http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/14/politics/cuba-embassy-opening-john-kerry-visit|archive-date=August 17, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/08/14/cuba-congressional-delegation-who-traveled-with-john-kerry-to-havana/|title=Cuba congressional delegation: Who traveled with John Kerry to Havana|author=Karoun Demirjian|date=August 14, 2015|work=Washington Post|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815055857/http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/08/14/cuba-congressional-delegation-who-traveled-with-john-kerry-to-havana/|archive-date=August 15, 2015}}</ref> and the three Marines (Larry C. Morris, Mike East and Jim Tracy) who had lowered the [[Flag of the United States|U.S. flag]] at the embassy 54 years earlier presented a new flag, which was then raised by Marines assigned to the post.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gordon|first1=Michael|title=Kerry Strikes Delicate Balance in Havana Trip for Embassy Flag-Raising|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/15/world/americas/kerry-havana-embassy-flag-raising.html|access-date=August 15, 2015|work=New York Times|date=August 14, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814200738/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/15/world/americas/kerry-havana-embassy-flag-raising.html|archive-date=August 14, 2015}}</ref>
+The building was upgraded from an interests section and returned to its original role as the United States Embassy in Cuba, on July 20, 2015.<ref name="cnne"/><ref name="pole"/><ref name="reopen"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/21/world/americas/cuba-us-embassy-diplomatic-relations.html|title=U.S. and Cuba Reopen Long-Closed Embassies|date=July 20, 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150720151932/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/21/world/americas/cuba-us-embassy-diplomatic-relations.html|archive-date=July 20, 2015}}</ref> On August 14, 2015, [[United States Secretary of State|U.S. Secretary of State]] [[John Kerry]] officially reopened it; eight [[United States Congress|congressional]] lawmakers involved in the policy change attended,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://globalnews.ca/news/2165325/john-kerry-flies-to-cuba-to-raise-flag-at-newly-opened-u-s-embassy/|title=John Kerry in Cuba as flag raised over U.S. Embassy|first1=Michael |last1=Weissenstein |first2=Bradley|last2=Klapper|date=August 14, 2015|work=Global News|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815054043/http://globalnews.ca/news/2165325/john-kerry-flies-to-cuba-to-raise-flag-at-newly-opened-u-s-embassy/|archive-date=August 15, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/14/politics/cuba-embassy-opening-john-kerry-visit/|title=Kerry to reopen embassy in Cuba but tensions remain|first=Elise|last=Labott|date=August 14, 2015|work=[[CNN]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150817001809/http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/14/politics/cuba-embassy-opening-john-kerry-visit|archive-date=August 17, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/08/14/cuba-congressional-delegation-who-traveled-with-john-kerry-to-havana/|title=Cuba congressional delegation: Who traveled with John Kerry to Havana|author=Karoun Demirjian|date=August 14, 2015|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815055857/http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2015/08/14/cuba-congressional-delegation-who-traveled-with-john-kerry-to-havana/|archive-date=August 15, 2015}}</ref> and the three Marines (Larry C. Morris, Mike East and Jim Tracy) who had lowered the [[Flag of the United States|U.S. flag]] at the embassy 54 years earlier presented a new flag, which was then raised by Marines assigned to the post.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Gordon|first1=Michael|title=Kerry Strikes Delicate Balance in Havana Trip for Embassy Flag-Raising|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/15/world/americas/kerry-havana-embassy-flag-raising.html|access-date=August 15, 2015|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=August 14, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814200738/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/15/world/americas/kerry-havana-embassy-flag-raising.html|archive-date=August 14, 2015}}</ref>
+In May 2022 a $28 million renovation project of the Embassy building was launched. The renovation project ran into several problems like visa issues for U.S. workers and technicians as well as supply shortages and fuel quality issues.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-06-10 |title=U.S. gives Havana embassy a facelift after years of neglect |url=https://denvergazette.com/news/nation-world/u-s-gives-havana-embassy-a-facelift-after-years-of-neglect/article_6498d29e-9ce0-5e6d-9c65-684126d66287.html |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=Denver Gazette |language=en |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610220952/https://denvergazette.com/news/nation-world/u-s-gives-havana-embassy-a-facelift-after-years-of-neglect/article_6498d29e-9ce0-5e6d-9c65-684126d66287.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
 ==Health-related incidents==
@@ Line 41: / Line 45: @@
  |last=Neuman
  |title=Cuban Diplomats Expelled After U.S. Embassy Staff 'Incidents' In Havana
- |publisher=NPR
+ |publisher=[[NPR]]
  | date = 2017-08-09
  | access-date = 2017-10-01
@@ Line 47: / Line 51: @@
  |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/cuba-embassy-attacks-baffle-u-s-frustrate-victim-n802326
  |title=Victim of Cuba embassy 'attacks' frustrated by response
- |publisher=NBC News
+ |work=[[NBC News]]
  |first1=Tracy
  |last1=Connor
@@ Line 56: / Line 60: @@
  |date=2017-09-17
  | access-date = 2017-10-01
-}}</ref> The State Department determined that the health problems may have been the result of an attack or else exposure to an as-yet-unknown device,<ref name="npr.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/25/545993212/at-least-16-u-s-embassy-staff-in-cuba-treated-after-health-attacks|title=At Least 16 U.S. Embassy Staff In Cuba Treated After 'Health Attacks'|publisher=NPR|first=James|last=Doubek}}</ref> and did not believe the Cuban government is responsible.<ref name=McClatchy>[http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article175493626.html U.S. does not believe Cuba is behind sonic attacks on American diplomats]. [[McClatchy News Service]], 26 September 2017</ref> Affected individuals described mild brain damage similar to a concussion and symptoms such as temporary or permanent hearing loss, memory loss, and nausea.<ref name="npr.org"/> Speculation has centered around a [[Sonic weapon|sonic or ultrasonic weapon]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/10/health/acoustic-weapons-explainer/index.html|title=Using sound to attack: The diverse world of acoustic devices|first=Nicole |last=Chavez|publisher=CNN}}</ref> however the scientific consensus is that the use of a sonic weapon is implausible.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/06/insider/cuba-illness-sonic-weapons.html| title=What’s a Science Reporter to Do When Sound Evidence Isn’t Sound?| last=Zimmer| first=Carl| website=nytimes.com| date=6 October 2017| access-date=13 October 2017| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013072311/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/06/insider/cuba-illness-sonic-weapons.html| archive-date=13 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.abc.net.au/radio/hobart/programs/worldtoday/the-mysterious-sound-heard-by-us-diplomatic-staff-in-cuba/9047202| title=Revealed: The mysterious sound heard by US diplomatic staff in Cuba| date=13 October 2017| last=Coady| first=David| website=abc.net.au |access-date=13 October 2017}}</ref>  Dr. [[Timothy Leighton]] has said ''"If you’re talking about a ray-gun rifle knocking out someone with ultrasound they can’t hear at a hundred meters — that’s not going to happen"''.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/05/science/cuba-sonic-weapon.html| title=A ‘Sonic Attack’ on Diplomats in Cuba? These Scientists Doubt It|date=5 October 2017| last=Zimmer| first= Carl| website=nytimes.com|access-date=13 October 2017| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013071441/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/05/science/cuba-sonic-weapon.html| archive-date=13 October 2017}}</ref>
+}}</ref> The State Department determined that the health problems may have been the result of an attack or else exposure to an as-yet-unknown device,<ref name="npr.org">{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/25/545993212/at-least-16-u-s-embassy-staff-in-cuba-treated-after-health-attacks|title=At Least 16 U.S. Embassy Staff In Cuba Treated After 'Health Attacks'|publisher=[[NPR]]|first=James|last=Doubek}}</ref> and did not believe the Cuban government is responsible.<ref name=McClatchy>[http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article175493626.html U.S. does not believe Cuba is behind sonic attacks on American diplomats]. [[McClatchy News Service]], 26 September 2017</ref> Affected individuals described mild brain damage similar to a concussion and symptoms such as temporary or permanent hearing loss, memory loss, and nausea.<ref name="npr.org"/> Speculation has centered around a [[Sonic weapon|sonic or ultrasonic weapon]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2017/08/10/health/acoustic-weapons-explainer/index.html|title=Using sound to attack: The diverse world of acoustic devices|first=Nicole |last=Chavez|date=August 10, 2017 |publisher=[[CNN]]}}</ref> but the scientific consensus is that the use of a sonic weapon is implausible.<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/06/insider/cuba-illness-sonic-weapons.html| title=What's a Science Reporter to Do When Sound Evidence Isn't Sound?| last=Zimmer| first=Carl| website=[[The New York Times]]| date=6 October 2017| access-date=13 October 2017| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013072311/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/06/insider/cuba-illness-sonic-weapons.html| archive-date=13 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.abc.net.au/radio/hobart/programs/worldtoday/the-mysterious-sound-heard-by-us-diplomatic-staff-in-cuba/9047202| title=Revealed: The mysterious sound heard by US diplomatic staff in Cuba| date=13 October 2017| last=Coady| first=David| website=abc.net.au |access-date=13 October 2017}}</ref> [[Timothy Leighton]], an expert in ultrasonics, has said "If you're talking about a ray-gun rifle knocking out someone with ultrasound they can't hear at a hundred meters{{snd}}that's not going to happen".<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/05/science/cuba-sonic-weapon.html| title=A 'Sonic Attack' on Diplomats in Cuba? These Scientists Doubt It|date=5 October 2017| last=Zimmer| first= Carl| website=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=13 October 2017| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171013071441/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/05/science/cuba-sonic-weapon.html| archive-date=13 October 2017}}</ref>
 The United States expelled two Cuban diplomats in response to the attacks;<ref name="NPRaug2017"/> the Cuban government offered to cooperate with the US in an investigation of the incidents.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.minrex.gob.cu/en/statement-ministry-foreign-affairs-cuba-1|title=Statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba%7cCubaMINREX|access-date=September 20, 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20180407014754/http://www.minrex.gob.cu/en/statement-ministry-foreign-affairs-cuba-1|archive-date=April 7, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> In September, the US State Department stated that it was removing non-emergency staff from the US embassy, and warned US citizens not to travel to Cuba.<ref>{{cite news
@@ Line 65: / Line 69: @@
  | date = 2017-09-29
  | access-date = 2017-10-01
-}}</ref> In October 2017, the ''Associated Press'' released what it claimed was a recording of the sound some embassy workers heard during the attacks.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/88bb914f8b284088bce48e54f6736d84|title=Dangerous sound? What Americans heard in Cuba attacks|work=AP News|access-date=2017-10-12|language=en-US}}</ref> However, senior neurologists consulted by ''[[The Guardian]]'' suggested that the health incidents were probably [[psychosomatic]] complaints, of the kind commonly known as [[mass hysteria]].<ref>{{cite news
+}}</ref> In October 2017, the ''Associated Press'' released what it claimed was a recording of the sound some embassy workers heard during the attacks.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/88bb914f8b284088bce48e54f6736d84|title=Dangerous sound? What Americans heard in Cuba attacks|work=[[Associated Press|AP News]]|access-date=2017-10-12|language=en-US}}</ref> However, senior neurologists consulted by ''[[The Guardian]]'' suggested that the health incidents were probably [[psychosomatic]] complaints, of the kind commonly known as [[mass hysteria]].<ref>{{cite news
  | author = Julian Borger and Philip Jaekl
  | title = Mass hysteria may explain 'sonic attacks' in Cuba, say top neurologists
  | url = https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/12/cuba-mass-hysteria-sonic-attacks-neurologists
- | publisher = The Guardian
+ | work = The Guardian
  | date = 2017-10-12
  | access-date = 2017-10-14
-}}</ref> In December 2017, investigators discovered abnormalities in the victims' brains. The white matter of the brains showed physical changes which doctors believe could not have been caused by sound. They are now avoiding the term "sonic" to describe the attacks and there is growing skepticism it was caused by a sonic device; rather, it's possible that the sound heard by victims was a by-product of the brain damage.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/bbed1d7f6f1a4320a7e60abfdce67d4d/Doctors-identify-brain-abnormalities-in-Cuba-attack-patients |title=Doctors find brain abnormalities in victims of Cuba mystery |work=[[AP News]] |agency=Associated Press |author=Josh Lederman |date=December 6, 2017 |access-date=December 7, 2017}}</ref> In a 2018 paper published in [[Journal of the American Medical Association|JAMA]], a team of medical researchers at the [[University of Pennsylvania]] all but ruled out a sonic weapon and said they could not find the source of the ailments experienced by the embassy staff. They said that the report by the Associated Press claiming researchers had found damage to white matter in the brains of the patients was wrong and that there was no such damage.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yirka |first1=Bob |title=New research suggests sonic weapon not likely in Cuban embassy employee illnesses |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-02-sonic-weapon-cuban-embassy-employee.html#nRlv |access-date=11 January 2019 |publisher=Medical Xpress |date=28 February 2018}}</ref> In January 2019 a study of a recording of the sound heard by embassy staff was released by Alexander Stubbs, a graduate student at the [[University of California, Berkeley]], and Fernando Montealegre-Zapata, a professor of sensory biology at the [[University of Lincoln]]. The study found that the sound matched the mating song of the [[Anurogryllus celerinictus|Indies short-tailed cricket]] found around the Caribbean. The researchers did not examine the cause of the diplomats’ ailments and did not rule out a sonic attack “at another point”.<ref>{{cite news |title=Cuban crickets, not weapon, heard by ill US diplomats: study |url=https://phys.org/news/2019-01-cuban-crickets-weapon-heard-ill.html |access-date=11 January 2019 |publisher=Science X |date=7 January 2019}}</ref>
+}}</ref> In December 2017, investigators discovered abnormalities in the victims' brains. The white matter of the brains showed physical changes which doctors believe could not have been caused by sound. They are now avoiding the term "sonic" to describe the attacks and there is growing skepticism it was caused by a sonic device; rather, it's possible that the sound heard by victims was a by-product of the brain damage.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://apnews.com/bbed1d7f6f1a4320a7e60abfdce67d4d/Doctors-identify-brain-abnormalities-in-Cuba-attack-patients |title=Doctors find brain abnormalities in victims of Cuba mystery |work=[[Associated Press|AP News]] |agency=[[Associated Press|AP News]] |author=Josh Lederman |date=December 6, 2017 |access-date=December 7, 2017}}</ref> In a 2018 paper published in [[Journal of the American Medical Association|JAMA]], a team of medical researchers at the [[University of Pennsylvania]] all but ruled out a sonic weapon and said they could not find the source of the ailments experienced by the embassy staff. They said that the report by the Associated Press claiming researchers had found damage to white matter in the brains of the patients was wrong and that there was no such damage.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yirka |first1=Bob |title=New research suggests sonic weapon not likely in Cuban embassy employee illnesses |url=https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-02-sonic-weapon-cuban-embassy-employee.html#nRlv |access-date=11 January 2019 |publisher=Medical Xpress |date=28 February 2018}}</ref> In January 2019 a study of a recording of the sound heard by embassy staff was released by Alexander Stubbs, a graduate student at the [[University of California, Berkeley]], and Fernando Montealegre-Zapata, a professor of sensory biology at the [[University of Lincoln]]. The study found that the sound matched the mating song of the [[Anurogryllus celerinictus|Indies short-tailed cricket]] found around the Caribbean. The researchers did not examine the cause of the diplomats' ailments and did not rule out a sonic attack "at another point".<ref>{{cite news |title=Cuban crickets, not weapon, heard by ill US diplomats: study |url=https://phys.org/news/2019-01-cuban-crickets-weapon-heard-ill.html |access-date=11 January 2019 |publisher=Science X |date=7 January 2019}}</ref>
-[[James Andrew Lewis|James Lewis]], a former State Department official and intelligence expert, stated: "We know with 100% certainly that the embassies are under surveillance, and the technology being used could just be crude and over-powered"; he noted that health problems at the [[Embassy of the United States, Moscow|US embassy in Moscow]] in the 1970s were thought to be linked to the use of [[The Thing (listening device)|microwave surveillance devices]].<ref name="Guardian">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/25/botched-surveillance-job-may-have-led-to-strange-injuries-at-cuban-embassy|title=Botched surveillance job may have led to strange injuries at US embassy in Cuba|last=Borger|first=Julian|date=2017-08-25|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-10-26|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
+[[James Andrew Lewis|James Lewis]], a former State Department official and intelligence expert, stated: "We know with 100% certainly that the embassies are under surveillance, and the technology being used could just be crude and over-powered"; he noted that health problems at the [[Embassy of the United States, Moscow|US embassy in Moscow]] in the 1970s were thought to be linked to the use of [[The Thing (listening device)|microwave surveillance devices]].<ref name="Guardian">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/25/botched-surveillance-job-may-have-led-to-strange-injuries-at-cuban-embassy|title=Botched surveillance job may have led to strange injuries at US embassy in Cuba|last=Borger|first=Julian|date=2017-08-25|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=2017-10-26|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
 == See also ==
@@ Line 91: / Line 95: @@
 ==External links==
 {{Commons category|United States Embassy, Havana}}
-{{wikinews|Embassy of the United States, Havana}}
+{{Wikinews|Embassy of the United States, Havana}}
 * {{facebook|USEmbCuba}}
 * {{Twitter}}
@@ Line 99: / Line 103: @@
 {{Portal bar|Cuba|United States|Politics}}
 {{US diplomatic missions}}
+{{Diplomatic missions in Cuba}}
 {{Cuba-United States relations}}
+{{Authority control}}
 [[Category:Cuba–United States relations]]
@@ Line 109: / Line 115: @@
 [[Category:2015 establishments in Cuba]]
 [[Category:Brutalist architecture]]
+[[Category:21st-century architecture in Cuba]]
+[[Category:20th-century architecture in Cuba]]

v t e Diplomatic missions in Cuba
Africa	Guinea [fr]
Americas	Peru 1980 crisis United States
Asia	India Japan [ja] Palestine [ar]
Europe	France [fr] Holy See Russia Ukraine [uk]

v t e Cuba–United States relations
Diplomatic posts	Embassy of Cuba, Washington, D.C. Ambassadors of Cuba to the United States Embassy of the United States, Havana Ambassadors of the United States to Cuba United States Interests Section in Havana Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
Diplomacy	Cuban–American Treaty of Relations (1903) Hay-Quesada Treaty Cuban–American Treaty of Relations (1934) Good Neighbor policy Inter-American Treaty of Reciprocal Assistance El Diálogo Cuba–United States Maritime Boundary Agreement Tripartite Accord (1988) Cuban thaw JetBlue Flight 387
Conflicts	Spanish–American War Ostend Manifesto USS Maine Monument to the Victims of the USS Maine (Havana) United States Senate Committee on Cuban Relations The Paquete Habana Army of Cuban Occupation Medal Propaganda United States Military Government in Cuba Second Occupation of Cuba Cuban Pacification Medal (Army) Banana Wars Negro Rebellion Sugar Intervention Cuban Revolution Aftermath La Coubre explosion Cuban exodus Cuban exile Golden exile Bay of Pigs Invasion Brigade 2506 Cuban Democratic Revolutionary Front Cuban Revolutionary Council Operation Ortsac Polita Grau José Antonio Llama Bay of Pigs Monument Bay of Pigs Museum Operation Peter Pan Operation 40 Operation Mongoose JMWAVE Operation Northwoods Jamaican political conflict United States invasion of Grenada United States embargo against Cuba
Incidents	Cubana de Aviación Flight 493 Matthew Edward Duke Cuban Missile Crisis Crateology Banco Nacional de Cuba v. Sabbatino Zemel v. Rusk Cuba–United States aircraft hijackings Pan Am Flight 281 Trans World Airlines Flight 106 Southern Airways Flight 49 Cubana de Aviación Flight 455 Leyla Express and Johnny Express incidents Mariel boatlift Garcia-Mir v. Meese Cuban boat people Sandy Pollack Regan v. Wald 1994 Cuban rafter crisis Operations Safe Haven and Safe Passage Bill Gaede 1996 shootdown of Brothers to the Rescue aircraft Cuban Five Elián González Ana Montes Carlos Alvarez Elsa Alvarez Kendall Myers Alan Gross Havana syndrome American fugitives in Cuba Assassination attempts on Fidel Castro
Legislation	Teller Amendment Platt Amendment Cuban Assets Control Regulations Cuban Adjustment Act Wet feet, dry feet policy Helms–Burton Act Freedom to Travel to Cuba Act Cuban Democracy Act Trade Sanction Reform and Export Enhancement Act
Related	Americans in Cuba Cuban Americans Little Havana Cuban migration to Miami Havana on the Hudson Cuban–American lobby Guantánamo Bay Timeline Guantanamo Bay Naval Base Guantanamo Bay detention camp 1999 Baltimore Orioles–Cuba national baseball team exhibition series Alpha 66 Antonio Maceo Brigade Brothers to the Rescue Balseros Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba Congressional Cuba Democracy Caucus Coordination of United Revolutionary Organizations Cuban American National Foundation Cuban dissident movement Cuban Liberty Council CubaOne Foundation Cuban Power Directorio Revolucionario Estudiantil Engage Cuba Fair Play for Cuba Committee Friends of Democratic Cuba Havana Jam Omega 7 Radio Free Dixie Radio y Televisión Martí US-Cuba Democracy PAC Varela Project Venceremos Brigade ZunZuneo Cuban football players who defected to the United States Filibuster (military) NOAAS Oregon II (R 332) Silver certificate Troika of tyranny Cuban Baseball Hall of Fame Boquerón, Cuba Straits of Florida Third Border Initiative State Sponsors of Terrorism United States and state-sponsored terrorism Luis Posada Carriles Orlando Bosch Cuba–OAS relations United Nations Security Council Resolution 144 Overthrow The Cuba Wars Balseros 638 Ways to Kill Castro
Category:Cuba–United States relations

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	Germany United States