Former US national‑security adviser John Bolton has accused both Ottawa and Washington of neglecting a thorough inquiry into whether Russia employed directed‑energy weapons against Canadian and American diplomats in Cuba almost a decade ago. In an interview with The Globe and Mail on Friday, Bolton said he suspected Russian involvement when first briefed about the mysterious illnesses that afflicted US envoys shortly after President Donald Trump’s first term. He was dismissed from the Trump administration in 2019 following foreign‑policy disputes.
The episode, dubbed Havana Syndrome, saw US and Canadian diplomats serving in Havana between 2016 and 2018, along with their families, report sudden brain injuries marked by nosebleeds, dizziness, blurred vision, confusion and memory loss. The symptoms emerged in the evenings after the staff heard unusual noises while at their residences.
Bolton asserted that Moscow had “done various things with directed energy before.” “The reason Havana may have been the first place to try it is that it was a place other than Moscow where the Russians could operate with complete freedom of action. But they did it in other places, too,” he observed. “That says to me that they were experimenting.”
The Globe reported last week that a Canadian diplomat was sharing intelligence with American operatives in Havana and that Canadians were using satellite equipment supplied by the United States when the debilitating illnesses began. “It could be that they [Canadians] were involved in espionage and that made them particularly interesting to the Russians and the Cubans, too,” Bolton commented. He added that “people would be stunned if that didn’t happen” given Canada’s participation in the Five Eyes intelligence alliance with the US, Britain, Australia and New Zealand.
Global Affairs Canada (GAC) has denied any espionage involvement by its diplomats. The department maintains that health issues should be handled through the Federal Workers’ Compensation Service. Last year, the Justice Department invoked a rare national‑security clause to keep confidential new details of a multimillion‑dollar lawsuit filed by the affected Canadian diplomats. The suit—now under court seal and subject to a publication ban—was amended in the summer of 2024 after a joint investigation by CBS’s *60 Minutes* and Germany’s Der Spiegel suggested a link to Russian military intelligence employing sonic weaponry.
A former senior Global Affairs official, who oversaw security and intelligence operations, told The Globe last week that the department always suspected Russian culpability but could not confirm it publicly due to lack of proof.
In 2023, the US National Intelligence Council (NIC) reported that five of seven intelligence agencies concluded it was “very unlikely” that a foreign adversary caused the diplomats’ ailments. Global Affairs Canada echoed this assessment in a 2024 report, stating that the symptoms suffered by ten diplomats and their families were “not the result of a malicious act of a foreign actor or foreign actors.” Instead, the report attributed the conditions to “pre‑existing medical conditions, environmental factors and conventional illnesses.”
The GAC findings omitted mention of a joint 2023 study on directed‑energy weapons by the National Research Council and Defence Research and Development Canada. That report noted that low‑power lasers are already used for crowd control and anti‑piracy measures, and warned that “scientific literature shows that a DEW is suspected to be the cause of the ‘Havana syndrome’ reported by US personnel in Cuba.”
Bolton and Paul Miller, the lawyer representing the Canadian diplomats, have criticised what they see as bureaucratic indifference. “I think the bureaucracy doesn’t want to face up to the potential that there were serious risks out there,” Bolton said. Miller added on Friday: “The diplomats and their family members have not been taken care of in any way since the attacks in Havana. After years of uncertainty, our clients deserve answers.”
In contrast, the United States disbursed US$3 million in July to US diplomats, spies and military personnel affected by Havana Syndrome, marking the first payout under a congressional act aimed at compensating victims.
On Monday, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand described the diplomats’ health issues as a human‑resources matter for her department. Prime Minister Mark Carney later told reporters that Ottawa does have a duty of care and has requested a detailed briefing.
Former Canadian spies and retired senior security officials have called for an independent parliamentary examination into whether Russia targeted the diplomats for allegedly aiding US intelligence agencies, and how Ottawa subsequently treated the affected personnel.
The Mystery of Havana Syndrome
The first reported cases of Havana Syndrome emerged in 2016, when US embassy staff in Havana began experiencing a cluster of neurological symptoms after hearing sharp noises in their apartments. Canadian diplomats stationed in the same city soon reported similar ailments, prompting a joint investigation by both governments. The condition quickly became known as Havana Syndrome, a term that now encompasses a range of unexplained health events affecting government personnel worldwide.
Medical experts have struggled to pinpoint a cause. Initial theories ranged from toxic exposure to microwave radiation. Over time, the hypothesis that directed‑energy weapons (DEWs) might be involved gained traction, especially after declassified research indicated that low‑power lasers could produce effects consistent with some of the reported symptoms.
The lack of a definitive scientific consensus has left policymakers in a difficult position. While some agencies have dismissed the possibility of a foreign adversary’s involvement, others maintain that the evidence warrants further scrutiny, particularly given Russia’s known research into electromagnetic and acoustic technologies.
Bolton’s Claims and the Diplomatic Fallout
John Bolton’s recent statements have reignited debate over the handling of the Havana incidents. He contends that both Ottawa and Washington have been complacent in pursuing the directed‑energy hypothesis, despite internal dissent within US intelligence circles. According to Bolton, many officials associated with the NIC study expressed dissatisfaction, fearing that the potential threat was being under‑estimated.
The former adviser’s allegations have sparked renewed calls for transparency. Critics argue that the governments’ reluctance to acknowledge a possible foreign attack could undermine the safety of diplomatic staff and erode public confidence in national security protocols. Supporters of the current approach caution that premature conclusions could damage international relations, especially with a nuclear‑armed power like Russia.
Ottawa’s Response and the Legal Battle
Global Affairs Canada has consistently maintained that its diplomats were not engaged in espionage during their deployment to Havana. The department’s position is that any health concerns should be addressed through existing workers’ compensation mechanisms. However, the Justice Department’s decision to invoke a national‑security provision to keep lawsuit details sealed has raised questions about the extent of governmental transparency.
The lawsuit, filed by Canadian diplomats and their families, seeks compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings and emotional distress. While the case remains under court seal, public interest has grown, particularly after revelations that the suit was amended following investigations by *60 Minutes* and Der Spiegel. Those reports suggested that Russian military intelligence may have employed sonic weaponry, a claim that has not been officially confirmed by either government.
Legal analysts note that the publication ban, while intended to protect national security interests, also hampers the ability of victims to obtain closure. The balance between safeguarding sensitive information and providing accountability remains a contentious issue in parliamentary discussions.
Calls for Parliamentary Scrutiny and the Broader Implications
A coalition of former intelligence officers and retired security officials has petitioned Parliament to launch an independent inquiry into the Havana incidents. Their demands include a detailed examination of whether Russian agents targeted Canadian and US personnel for their alleged cooperation with US spy agencies, and an assessment of how Ottawa responded to the health crises that followed.
Such an inquiry could have far‑reaching consequences. It may uncover systemic failures in inter‑agency communication, highlight gaps in protective measures for diplomats, and influence future policy on directed‑energy research and defence. Moreover, a transparent investigation could set a precedent for how democratic governments handle alleged foreign attacks on their citizens abroad.
Why it Matters
The unresolved saga of Havana Syndrome strikes at the heart of diplomatic security and governmental accountability. If a foreign power indeed used directed‑energy weapons against envoys on Canadian and American soil, the implications extend far beyond the immediate health of the victims. They challenge the foundations of international law, raise urgent questions about the adequacy of protective technologies, and expose potential lapses in intelligence sharing between allies. The calls for a parliamentary inquiry signal a growing demand for transparency and a commitment to safeguarding those who serve their nations abroad. Failure to address these concerns could embolden hostile actors, while a thorough, impartial investigation could reinforce democratic oversight and restore confidence among diplomatic personnel and the public alike.
