Reuters reported, citing U.S. government officials, that more than 10 countries have committed to Washington to accept about half of the 52 Guantanamo prisoners designated for transfer to other locations. This report, published on Friday, August 7, states that the transfer of Guantanamo prisoners to these countries requires the signature of Ash Carter, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, which could cause delays in the process. This comes as President Obama is trying to close the prison before the end of his presidency in 2017. Reuters did not disclose the identity of its source, referring to them only as a senior U.S. official. According to this official, a representative from the U.S. State Department regarding Guantanamo matters has reached final agreements with several foreign governments in line with the White House's plan to close the infamous prison and is currently negotiating with other countries. This U.S. official then predicted that the designated prisoners would be transferred from the Guantanamo base by the end of this calendar year, thus reducing the number of Guantanamo prisoners, which currently stands at 116. On the last day of July, the White House spokesperson announced that the Obama administration is in the final stages of its plan to close Guantanamo and that closing the prison is 'in the national interest and a priority for Mr. Obama.' In the early days of his presidency, Barack Obama issued an order to close Guantanamo and investigate the methods of interrogating its prisoners, promising to close the prison by the end of 2010. He considered the harsh interrogation methods used in this prison as a form of 'torture' and emphasized that the existence of this prison has damaged America's image in the world. However, Obama, who has faced opposition from Congressional Republicans on this issue, has so far been unable to fulfill his promise, as in 2009, Senate members voted 90 to 6 to halt the process of transferring Guantanamo detainees. The U.S. President has now warned Congress that if they oppose amendments to the U.S. defense bill related to the closure of Guantanamo, he will veto Congress's decision.
Obama's Plan to Close Guantanamo Intensifies
The U.S. government is intensifying efforts to close Guantanamo by negotiating with over 10 countries to accept prisoners. President Obama aims to close the facility before his presidency ends in 2017, but faces delays and opposition from Congress. This situation highlights ongoing debates about U.S. detention practices and international relations.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Obama's administration seeks to transfer Guantanamo prisoners to close the facility before 2017.
- U.S. State Department negotiate foreign governments
- Obama administration announce Congress
- Obama warn Congress
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The U.S. is actively working to close Guantanamo, impacting international relations and domestic policy.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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Translation confidence: 85%