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Cuban President Denies Talks with US as Trump Issues Warning
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel firmly stated Monday that his government is not engaged in negotiations with the United States, responding to President Donald Trump’s recent veiled threat toward the island nation in the aftermath of a U.S. military action against Venezuela.
Díaz-Canel took to social media platform X with a series of statements after Trump suggested Cuba should “make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” though the U.S. president did not elaborate on what such a deal might entail.
“For relations between the U.S. and Cuba to progress, they must be based on international law rather than hostility, threats, and economic coercion,” Díaz-Canel wrote. He emphasized that Cuba has “always been willing to hold a serious and responsible dialogue” with various U.S. administrations, provided such talks occur “on the basis of sovereign equality, mutual respect, principles of International Law, and mutual benefit without interference in internal affairs.”
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez later amplified these messages by reposting them on his own social media account.
The diplomatic tension follows Trump’s Sunday statement that Cuba would no longer benefit from Venezuelan oil and financial support. This comes in the wake of the January 3 U.S. operation against Venezuela that resulted in 32 Cuban officers’ deaths and President Nicolás Maduro’s arrest.
Before the U.S. intervention, Cuba was receiving approximately 35,000 barrels of oil daily from Venezuela, supplemented by roughly 5,500 barrels from Mexico and 7,500 from Russia, according to Jorge Piñón, an energy expert at the University of Texas at Austin who tracks petroleum shipments to the island.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday declined to provide specific details about current oil shipments to Cuba or whether Mexico plans to increase its supply to compensate for the anticipated end of Venezuelan deliveries. “It has been ongoing for a long time; it’s not new,” she stated, adding that her government would be willing to mediate dialogue between the U.S. and Cuba if both parties agreed.
Cuba’s energy crisis is likely to worsen significantly without Venezuelan oil. Even with previous petroleum imports, the island has suffered widespread power outages due to fuel shortages and deteriorating infrastructure. Energy experts warn that cutting off this vital supply line could exacerbate Cuba’s already dire economic situation, which has been severely impacted by pandemic-related economic paralysis and intensified U.S. sanctions implemented during Trump’s first administration.
The Cuban government claims U.S. sanctions cost the country more than $7.5 billion between March 2024 and February 2025—a devastating sum for an economy whose tourism revenue peaked at approximately $3 billion annually in previous years. This economic crisis has sparked a substantial wave of migration, primarily to the United States, though recent policy changes have restricted the immigration privileges once afforded to Cuban exiles.
Andy S. Gómez, retired dean of the University of Miami’s School of International Studies and a Cuban Studies expert, characterized the situation as “very sad and concerning.” He interprets Díaz-Canel’s statements as an attempt “to buy a little bit of time for the inner circle to decide what steps it’s going to take,” but does not expect Cuba to initiate contact with U.S. officials in the immediate future.
“They had every opportunity when President Obama opened up U.S. diplomatic relations, and yet they didn’t even bring Cuban coffee to the table,” Gómez noted. “Of course, these are desperate times for Cuba.”
Michael Galant, senior research associate at the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, D.C., offered a different perspective, suggesting Cuba might be open to negotiations focused on easing sanctions, migration, and security concerns. However, he believes Trump is not pressured to reach an immediate agreement.
“Trump is hoping to deepen the economic crisis on the island, and there are few costs to Trump to try and wait that out,” Galant said.
Meanwhile, Díaz-Canel explicitly stated on social media that “there are no talks with the U.S. government, except for technical contacts in the area of migration.”
As international tensions simmer, everyday Cubans express mixed reactions. Oreidy Guzmán, a 32-year-old food delivery worker, said he doesn’t wish harm on his fellow citizens, “but if something has to happen, the people deserve change.” Homemaker Meilyn Gómez, 37, expressed doubt about a U.S. invasion but remains cautious about Trump’s unpredictability.
Rubén Benítez, a 57-year-old bartender, reflected the resilience shared by many islanders: “Cuban people talk and talk, but to be honest, eleven, eight or nine million will take to the streets to defend what little we have left.”
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14 Comments
Tensions between the US and Cuba seem to be escalating again. While Cuba’s position on non-interference is reasonable, some pragmatic compromise may be necessary to achieve tangible progress on economic and diplomatic fronts.
That’s a fair assessment. Both sides will likely need to make concessions for meaningful dialogue and cooperation to occur.
The Trump administration’s threats toward Cuba are concerning. Escalating tensions is unlikely to benefit either country or the broader region. I hope cooler heads can prevail and facilitate a constructive dialogue.
Agreed. A more measured, diplomatic approach focused on shared interests would be a more productive path forward.
As a major producer of key minerals, Cuba’s relationship with the US is an important one to watch for the global mining industry. I hope the two countries can find common ground, while respecting Cuba’s sovereignty.
Absolutely. Stable access to Cuba’s mineral resources could have significant implications for the global supply chain.
Interesting developments in US-Cuba relations. While dialogue is important, it’s clear Cuba wants any talks to be on equal terms and without interference in its internal affairs. Curious to see how this plays out going forward.
Yes, Cuba has historically taken a firm stance on maintaining its sovereignty. It will be important for any negotiations to respect that principle.
Cuba’s unwavering stance on respecting its sovereignty is understandable given its history with the US. However, some flexibility may be required to make progress on economic and political fronts. Careful negotiation will be key.
That’s a fair point. Both sides will need to find a delicate balance between their respective interests and principles.
The Trump administration’s approach toward Cuba seems confrontational. Threats and economic coercion are unlikely to lead to constructive outcomes. I hope both sides can find a way to engage productively on shared interests.
Agreed. A more cooperative, diplomatic approach would likely yield better results for all involved.
Cuba’s insistence on basing relations with the US on international law and mutual respect is understandable given the history. However, some compromise may be necessary for progress to be made on key issues.
That’s a fair point. Achieving a balanced, mutually beneficial agreement will require flexibility and good-faith efforts from both governments.