Cuba says ‘respectful’ meeting held with US officials
A Cuban foreign ministry official confirmed in an interview with state-run Granma that US officials met with their Cuban counterparts in Havana recently.
A high-level U.S. delegation visited the island a week ago and said Cuban officials had a small window to agree to U.S.-backed reforms before conditions worsened, Axios reported Friday.
Alejandro Garcia del Toro, who handles U.S. affairs at Cuba’s foreign ministry, said neither side set deadlines or made threatening statements at the meeting and that it was “respectful.”
Garcia del Toro: “Lifting the energy embargo on the country was one of the most important priorities of our delegation.” he said.
🇺🇸🇨🇺| Confirm the connection between the Cuban and United States delegations.↪️ Headquarters and EE cargo. UU. del Minrex pays tribute to Alejandro García del Toro, Granma. Information on the subject: 🔗 https://t.co/uziqx62RjW pic.twitter.com/1cvaF5aDPK — Granma Era (@Granma_Digital) April 20, 2026
U.S. officials have called on the Cuban government to follow long-standing U.S. policy of lifting the Cuban embargo, including providing compensation for assets and property seized after the 1959 revolution, releasing political prisoners and providing greater political freedom, Axios reported.
According to Axios, the US delegation also proposed establishing Starlink satellite services in the country.
Garcia del Toro said that the United States is represented by deputy State Department officials, while Cuba is represented “at the deputy secretary of state level.”
Axios had reported that the talks also included Raul Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson of former Cuban President Raul Castro, who, at age 94, still wields great influence.
