Mike Hammer, the US head of mission in Cuba, held meetings in Rome with the Vatican and Latin American partners on February 20, 2026, to address the situation on the island, according to the US Embassy to the Holy See. The meetings occurred amid increasing pressure from Washington on the Cuban regime, as reported by @USinHolySee on X. The US Embassy to the Holy See stated the discussions focused on the situation in Cuba, with no specific timing or additional details provided within the reporting window from 3:17 PM to 5:16 PM UTC. The announcement followed earlier reports of a deadly prison riot in Ciego de Ávila, where six inmates died after regime forces repressed unrest at Canaleta prison, according to Diario de Cuba and Prisoners Defenders. Hammer's meetings come as Cuban official Ernesto Soberón told EFE earlier on February 20 that the government has contingency plans, including a 'zero option' without external supplies, to counter potential US measures amid ongoing fuel shortages and economic challenges.
