Cuba confirmed it held talks with U.S. Officials in Havana last week, marking the first such diplomatic engagement since 2016.
The Cuban Foreign Ministry said the discussions were respectful and professional, with no threats or deadlines issued by the American delegation.
Alejandro Garcia del Toro, deputy director general for U.S. Affairs at Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led the Cuban side and said ending the three-month-old U.S. Oil blockade was a top priority.
He accused Washington of blackmail for threatening countries that export fuel to Cuba with tariffs, calling the blockade an unjust punishment on the Cuban population.
The U.S. Delegation included assistant secretaries of state, according to Garcia del Toro, and focused on conditions for continued talks.
Those conditions, previously reported by Axios and Reuters, include the release of political prisoners, an end to political repression, and economic liberalization.
Washington also seeks to allow Elon Musk’s Starlink internet terminals into Cuba and compensation for U.S. Citizens and corporations whose assets were confiscated after the 1959 revolution.
Trump has warned of tariffs on any nation selling oil to Cuba and hinted at possible military intervention, raising fears of a humanitarian crisis amid worsening energy shortages.
For more on this story, see US Lifts Sanctions on Venezuela’s President After Maduro’s Abduction.
Cuba says ending the oil blockade is its top demand in talks with the United States
Garcia del Toro emphasized that lifting the blockade is essential not just for energy access but as a matter of sovereign rights under free trade principles.
He argued that countries exporting fuel to Cuba should not face punitive measures from Washington, framing the policy as coercive and illegitimate.
The blockade has intensified Cuba’s existing economic struggles, contributing to frequent power outages and fuel shortages across the island.
Cuban officials have warned that without relief, the situation could deteriorate into a broader humanitarian challenge.
United States links future talks to political and economic reforms in Cuba
U.S. Officials presented a set of preconditions for ongoing dialogue, including human rights improvements and market-oriented changes.
They also raised concerns about foreign influence on the island, though did not name specific countries in the reported remarks.
The proposal to bring in Starlink reflects a broader U.S. Interest in expanding communications access, potentially bypassing state-controlled networks.
Compensation claims for seized properties remain a longstanding point of contention dating back to the early years of the revolution.
Why did the United States impose an oil blockade on Cuba?
The blockade is part of a broader pressure campaign aimed at forcing political change, according to U.S. Statements cited in the report.
Washington views Cuba’s government as repressive and seeks to limit its ability to sustain itself through foreign fuel imports.
What does Cuba gain from engaging with the United States despite the blockade?
Cuba sees the talks as a chance to relieve economic strain and challenge what it calls illegitimate U.S. Coercion.
Engagement also allows Havana to assert its sovereignty in international forums by negotiating directly with Washington.
