The New York Post reported that President Joe Biden is resolved to see the closure of the Guantánamo Bay detention facility within his remaining six months in office, as confirmed by the White House.
In January 2025, President Biden aims to close the doors of the controversial Guantánamo Bay prison, a facility that currently houses 30 inmates.
These developments came into light after plea agreements were reached, notably involving Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, accused of planning the September 11 attacks.
The plea agreements have dismissed the possibility of the death penalty for Mohammed and two of his co-conspirators. This move has been met with stark opposition from families of the 9/11 victims, who found the lack of a harsher sentence disheartening.
The White House has clarified that President Biden had no direct involvement in the plea negotiations. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan emphasized the independence of the military prosecutors in negotiating these plea deals.
Jake Sullivan stated:
Last night the White House received word that the convening authority had entered these pretrial agreements that had been negotiated by military prosecutors with KSM and some of the other 9/11 defendants, and we had no role in that process... The president had no role. The vice president had no role. I had no role. The White House had no role. And we were informed yesterday—the same day that they went out publicly—that this pretrial agreement had been accepted by the convening authority... What the president did upon learning of that was direct his team to consult as appropriate with officials and lawyers at the Department of Defense on this matter. Those consultations are ongoing, and I have nothing more.
Since its establishment in 2002 following the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, Guantánamo Bay has been synonymous with delayed justice and accusations of human rights abuses.
Critics argue that the facility's isolation, slow legal proceedings, and severe interrogation tactics amounting to torture underscore the need for its closure.
In response to these plea deals and ongoing criticisms, Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House Press Secretary, reiterated Biden’s commitment to closing the facility.
She stated, “That’s still something that the president wants to do and get done. As far as a timeline, I don’t have anything for you here, but obviously, this is something that he wanted to be done under his administration. I just don’t have anything else to read out or preview at this time, but it is something that he’s determined to get done.”
The future of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his cohorts remains unresolved, largely due to legislative hurdles instituted by Congress in 2018, which prevent the transfer of high-value detainees to U.S. soil. These restrictions pose significant logistical and legal challenges to Biden's goal.
As the deadline approaches, the administration must navigate a complex legal landscape, continued public scrutiny, and the palpable dissatisfaction of 9/11 victims' families. Seeking closure for an infamous chapter in American history, President Biden faces monumental pressure to fulfill his promise, balancing justice, international human rights standards, and national security interests.
In conclusion, the closure of Guantánamo Bay marks a defining moment for Biden’s presidency, reflecting broader efforts to address the long-standing issues associated with the War on Terror. As these discussions progress, the outcomes will undoubtedly leave a lasting imprint on U.S. legal and political landscapes.
