Cuba confirms it’s begun talks with U.S. over ‘bilateral differences’
MEXICO CITY — Cuba has begun direct talks with the United States in an attempt to resolve “bilateral differences” between the two countries, Cuban President Miguel Díaz Canel said on Friday.
The comments, broadcast nationwide in Cuba, were the first confirmation of bilateral talks between two governments that have been enemies for almost 70 years since Fidel Castro’s revolution toppled US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista.
It remains unclear what exactly the talks are about, but the Trump administration, which triggered a serious energy crisis by cutting off oil supplies to the island, insists that Cuba’s communist government must change.
In his statement on social media, Díaz Canel said, “The main purpose of this meeting is, firstly, to identify bilateral problems that require solutions according to their seriousness and impact, and secondly, to find solutions to these identified problems.”
Rumors of direct talks between the two countries have been circulating for months, but neither Washington nor Havana have confirmed these talks until now.
On Tuesday, Cuban Ambassador to the United States Lianys Torres Rivera told The Times that the Cuban government “is ready to engage with the United States on issues that are important for bilateral relations and to talk about issues on which we have differences.”
Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, insist that the current government must change.
“This may be a friendly takeover, but it may not be a friendly takeover,” Trump told Latin American leaders gathered in Florida on Saturday.
“It doesn’t matter because, as they say, they are busy fuming. They have no energy. They have no money. They are in big trouble,” Trump said.
Trump responded to the Cuban leader’s willingness to negotiate by amplifying a news article Friday morning with the headline: “Cuba confirms talks with Trump officials, raises hopes for U.S. deal.” He shared this on his Truth Social account.
Constant power outages, food and medicine shortages, gasoline shortages and other shortages have become daily occurrences on the island of 10 million people. Images of uncollected, rotting garbage on the streets of Havana were broadcast worldwide. The lack of jet fuel has deeply affected the critical tourism sector.
“The status quo is unsustainable,” Rubio said last month. “Cuba needs to change… And it doesn’t have to change all at once. It doesn’t have to change from one day to the next.”
Cuba’s announcement came 13 days after the United States attacked Iran and two months after U.S. forces deployed by Trump deposed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a longtime Cuban ally, and brought him to New York to face drug trafficking charges.
