A few days ago, the term “Havana Syndrome” reappeared in international news, especially American ones, and the syndrome is a health symptom that began affecting the employees of the US Embassy in the Cuban capital, Havana, since 2016, so what is its story?
The “Al-Marsad” program (13/3/2023) followed an aspect of the story of the “Havana Syndrome” that has occupied the press for years, and the timeline of the tense diplomatic relations between the two neighbors, the United States and Cuba, since the middle of the last century. The symptoms of this syndrome were strong ringing in the ears, nausea and fatigue. severe headache.
Since then, the media, analysts and doctors have spun many theories about an unconventional sonic weapon being used by an enemy of the United States. Over the years, several medical researches were conducted, and the US intelligence conducted careful field investigations to solve this mystery.
However, from the beginning of this March, a report by the US National Intelligence Council, which includes the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and other security services, was declassified, which concluded that no hostile action by any external force was suspected.
Although in 2016 similar symptoms of the syndrome were announced that affected employees of other embassies, the American media chose at that time – believing in conspiracy theories – to talk about a hostile act that targeted only American diplomats and security personnel in the Cuban capital, Havana.
Historically, US-Cuban relations were not an example of friendship between two neighbors, as the two countries opened their embassies for the first time in 1923. However, the relocation of the US embassy in Havana to its current famous building did not take place until after 3 decades, and it was soon entered after the severing of diplomatic relations and the imposition of a blockade at the beginning. Sixties.
In 2015, former US President Barack Obama signed an executive order to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba and reopen his country’s embassy in Havana, after which he visited it in late March 2016. Shortly after that visit, he announced the emergence of strange health symptoms among some diplomats and intelligence men working in Cuba. Embassy.