Cuba acknowledges ongoing talks with Washington
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The news: Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel on Friday confirmed that his government has been negotiating with the Trump administration as the Communist island struggles under a US oil blockage and worsening economic crisis.
The context: “Cuban officials recently held talks with representatives of the United States government to seek through dialogue a possible solution to the bilateral differences that exist between our two nations,” the Cuban leader said in a rare, televised press conference in Havana. “These talks have been aimed at seeking solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences that exist between our two nations.”
Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla posted a readout of Díaz-Canel’s comments on social media.
Díaz-Canel said US and Cuban officials had “recently” met with his full backing and were exploring “potential solutions for our bilateral differences.”
But he added it was premature to offer details, saying any agreement is “still distant, but we are in the initial stages of that process.”
Díaz-Canel said Cuba hasn’t received fuel in three months which is creating a humanitarian crisis, with over 10,000 people having had to delay surgeries due to power outages. He added that the US FBI would be visiting the island to investigate an incident which Cuba says saw 10 heavily armed men arrive by fishing boat in February, opening fire when confronted. Five of the armed men were killed by Cuban security forces.
This is the first time Díaz-Canel has acknowledged the US negotiations, despite US President Donald Trump having claimed several times that his administration is in dialogue with Cuban officials. Earlier this week Trump reiterated his threat of a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, saying the island is in “deep trouble.”
Trump’s administration imposed a blockade of oil shipments to the country since the 3 January US military operation that captured former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
The sources: Bruno Rodriguez X, WSJ, Bloomberg, CNBC
