Cuban President Declares No Ongoing Talks with US Amid Rising Trump Threats

No Negotiations Between Cuba and the United States

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has announced that there are currently no discussions taking place between Havana and the United States, in light of increasing threats from American President Donald Trump following his attack on Venezuela. Diaz-Canel specified in a social media post that actual coordination regarding immigration continues between Cuba and the US, but broader negotiations are not occurring.

"We have always been willing to maintain a serious and responsible dialogue with various American administrations, including the current one, based on sovereign equality, mutual respect, and principles of international law," stated Diaz-Canel. He added that relations between the US and Cuba should be grounded in international law, rather than "hostility, threats, and economic coercion."

Trump emphasized that the US could intensify pressure on Cuba after the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during an attack on January 3, which resulted in the deaths of at least 100 individuals, including 32 members of Cuban security forces. The US President noted on Sunday that oil supplies from Venezuela to Cuba would be suspended and that the Havana government should "come to an agreement" with the US before it is "too late."

In response to Trump's comments, Diaz-Canel asserted that Cuba is a "free, independent, and sovereign country" and will defend itself "to the last drop of blood." Venezuelan oil represents a crucial economic lifeline for Cuba, which is grappling with severe American sanctions, providing approximately 35,000 barrels of oil per day prior to the US attack. Estimates suggest that Mexico supplies around 5,500 barrels of oil per day to Cuba, while Russia contributes about 7,500 barrels.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum previously stated that the US attack on Venezuela has heightened the relative importance of Mexican oil for Cuba, yet Mexico has not increased its oil sales to Havana. Sheinbaum, who has recently responded to Trump's threats regarding potential military action against criminal groups within Mexican territory with a firm insistence on the country’s sovereignty, remarked that she discussed cooperation with Trump on issues such as trade, security, and drug trafficking. "I had a very good conversation with American President Donald Trump," Sheinbaum said in a social media post, adding that discussions also included security issues "with respect for our sovereignty."