Cuban President Díaz-Canel Confirms Secret US Talks After 3-Month Oil Crisis
Cuba says it has recently held talks with the United States — the first time Havana has publicly confirmed contacts between the longtime rivals.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel revealed the discussions during a press appearance in Havana, saying the goal was to find ways to resolve “bilateral differences” through dialogue.
The acknowledgment comes as Cuba faces a severe energy crisis that has intensified pressure on the government and disrupted daily life across the island.
According to reporting from the Associated Press and ABC News, Díaz-Canel said the talks were meant to identify problems affecting the relationship and explore potential cooperation between the two countries.
He also disclosed that no petroleum shipments have arrived in Cuba in the past three months, worsening electricity shortages and triggering widespread blackouts.
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“The impact is tremendous,” Díaz-Canel said while describing how the fuel shortage has affected transportation, communications and medical services.
Hospitals have reportedly delayed surgeries, while power failures have left millions of people without electricity in parts of western Cuba.
Reuters reported the discussions appear to be in early stages, with limited details about who represented the United States in the meetings or where they occurred.
The talks also follow growing geopolitical pressure on Cuba’s energy supply after Venezuelan oil shipments — historically a major source of fuel for the island — were disrupted.
Cuban officials blame what they call a U.S. “energy blockade” for deepening the shortages, while Washington has long accused Havana of economic mismanagement.
Diplomatic signals around the talks have already produced at least one visible step: Cuba recently announced the release of 51 prisoners in what officials described as a goodwill gesture connected to broader international discussions.
Whether the contacts lead to formal negotiations or policy changes remains uncertain.
For now, both governments appear to be testing the possibility of dialogue as Cuba’s economic crisis continues to escalate.
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