Contacts with the Trump administration come as nationwide blackouts deepen following Washington’s oil restrictions and the Iran war
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has confirmed that officials in Havana are holding talks with the administration of US President Donald Trump, as the island grapples with a deepening energy crisis and widespread blackouts.
The contacts come amid mounting economic pressure on the Caribbean nation, with Cuban authorities blaming American sanctions and restrictions on fuel supplies for crippling the country’s power generation. The Iran conflict and the resulting spike in global oil prices have further aggravated the situation. Crude briefly topped $110 a barrel this month, the highest level since the pandemic.
Speaking in a televised address on Friday, Diaz-Canel said the contacts were “aimed at finding solutions through dialogue.” He did not specify when or where the talks were taking place, or which officials were involved.
The announcement marks the first time in more than a decade that Havana has publicly acknowledged formal discussions with Washington. It follows weeks of power cuts, fuel shortages, and growing public anger after the halt of Venezuelan oil shipments in the wake of the US seizure of President Nicolas Maduro and as Washington stepped up efforts to block other suppliers. Trump has repeatedly threatened a “total oil blockade” of Cuba and warned that countries selling crude to the island could face tariffs.
No petroleum shipments have reached the island in the past three months, Diaz-Canel said, adding that tens of thousands of people, including children, are unable to undergo surgery because of the blockade.
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