Havana, February 6 — Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said Cuba is willing to hold dialogue with the United States on any issue but rejected talks conducted under pressure, amid rising tensions and severe fuel shortages linked to US actions after a recent military operation in Venezuela.
Díaz-Canel said Thursday that negotiations must take place “from a position of equals, with respect for our sovereignty, our independence and our self-determination,” and without interference in Cuba’s internal affairs.
US President Donald Trump has claimed ongoing negotiations with Havana, which Cuban authorities deny, and has warned Cuba to “make a deal” with Washington “BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” saying the island was “ready to fall.” Trump has vowed to block Cuba’s oil access, including by targeting Venezuelan supplies after last month’s ouster of its leader in a US operation, and has threatened tariffs on countries aiding Havana.
The White House, via spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, called Cuba “on its last leg” while saying diplomacy remains open. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also expressed support for regime change in Havana.
Cuba faces an acute energy crisis, with no diesel or oil generation for weeks and reliance on Venezuelan shipments that stopped in December. Earlier Thursday, hundreds of thousands in eastern Cuba suffered prolonged blackouts after a grid failure.
Díaz-Canel said Cuba “is not alone” but did not specify allies or details of efforts to secure fuel. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said diplomatic efforts aim to resume crude deliveries without risking US tariffs.
The US State Department announced $6 million in direct aid to Cubans via the Catholic Church, following $3 million earlier delivered through local parishes.
Cuban officials blame longstanding US sanctions for the island’s deepest economic crisis in decades — marked by shortages of fuel, food and medicine — while observers point to internal mismanagement and a post-COVID tourism slump. Díaz-Canel said the crisis underscores the need for renewable energy to reduce external dependence.
(ANI)
