Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged Friday that officials from the communist government have recently held discussions with representatives of the United States, confirming for the first time that such contacts have taken place as Cuba struggles through a severe national crisis.

Díaz-Canel said the discussions were focused on addressing ongoing disagreements between the two countries, though he did not provide details about the negotiations or identify the Cuban representatives involved.

According to Díaz-Canel, the talks are intended to explore possible solutions through diplomatic engagement. He said they are aimed at “finding solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences between our two nations.”

Cuba is currently experiencing a profound economic collapse, with widespread poverty and hardship across the island after more than six decades of communist rule. The situation has worsened following the sudden loss of heavily subsidized oil shipments from Venezuela. Those supplies ended after President Donald Trump ordered the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro during a law enforcement operation in Caracas on January 3.

For years, Venezuela had served as a crucial source of cheap oil for the Cuban government. Both Maduro and his predecessor, Hugo Chávez, maintained close ties with Havana and provided regular oil shipments in exchange for security assistance and other support from the Cuban regime.

President Trump has said repeatedly in recent weeks that the United States has been communicating with Cuban officials as the country’s crisis has intensified.

“The Cuban Government is talking with us. They’re in a big deal of trouble, as you know. They have no money; they have no anything right now, but they’re talking with us, and maybe we’ll have a friendly takeover of Cuba. We could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba,” President Trump told reporters on late February.

Until Friday, Cuban authorities had not publicly confirmed those contacts. Díaz-Canel acknowledged them during a broadcast on state television, where he appeared alongside senior members of the communist leadership.

“In line with the consistent policy of the Cuban Revolution throughout its history, and guided by the Army General as the historic leader of our Revolution and by myself, and in coordination with the highest structures of the Party, State, and Government, Cuban officials have recently held talks with representatives of the Government of the United States,” Díaz-Canel said.

“These conversations have been aimed at seeking solutions, through dialogue, to bilateral differences that exist between the two nations. There are international factors that have facilitated these exchanges,” he continued.

During his remarks, Díaz-Canel avoided discussing the severe economic hardship facing ordinary Cubans. Instead, he said the purpose of the talks was to identify shared issues that require attention and to determine whether both governments are willing to pursue practical steps to resolve them.

“Furthermore, the objective is to determine the willingness of both parties to undertake concrete actions for the benefit of the peoples of both countries,” Díaz-Canel said.

He also said the discussions are meant to explore potential areas of cooperation that could address security concerns and contribute to stability in the United States, Cuba, and the wider Latin American and Caribbean region. The United States has designated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism because of the regime’s longstanding support for international terror groups. President Trump earlier this year signed an executive order addressing national security concerns related to the Cuban government.

Díaz-Canel added that the Cuban government generally does not respond to what he described as speculation, an apparent reference to recent reports about the talks with Washington. He characterized the discussions as a delicate process requiring careful handling.

He said the negotiations are part of a “very sensitive process” that is being carried out with “seriousness and responsibility” and requires effort to find solutions and “create spaces for understanding that allow us to move away from confrontation.”

“During the exchanges that have taken place, the Cuban side has expressed its willingness to carry out this process on the basis of equality and respect for the political systems of both States, as well as for the sovereignty and self-determination of our Government,” Díaz-Canel said. “This has been stated taking into account a sense of reciprocity and adherence to international law.”

As of Friday, the White House had not publicly responded to Díaz-Canel’s remarks.

President Trump addressed the situation in Cuba during his speech at the Shield of the Americas Summit in Florida last week, predicting that major changes could soon occur on the island. He also said Cuban officials had been in contact with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and described the communist government as nearing collapse.

“As we achieve a historic transformation in Venezuela, we’re also looking forward to the great change that will soon be coming to Cuba,” President Trump said. “Cuba’s, at the end of the line. They’re very much at the end of the line. They have no money, they have no oil. They have a bad philosophy. They have a bad regime that’s been bad for a long time.”

Meanwhile, Cuban opposition groups and members of the Cuban diaspora recently gathered to sign the “Agreement for the Liberation of Cuba,” a document outlining proposals for establishing a transitional government after 67 years of communist rule on the island.

{Matzav.com}