Cuba President Confirms U.S. Talks but Says Deal Will Take Time

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed that Cuba recently held talks with the United States, signaling renewed diplomatic contact between the two countries. Speaking in Havana, Díaz-Canel said the discussions were intended to find solutions through dialogue to the longstanding bilateral differences between the two nations.

The Cuban leader did not provide details about the level of the talks or the specific issues discussed. However, the acknowledgment marks the first time Havana has publicly confirmed the existence of such contacts, which had previously been the subject of speculation in international media.

The talks come as Cuba faces one of its most severe economic and energy crises in recent years. Díaz-Canel said the island has not received petroleum shipments for the past three months, worsening fuel shortages and putting pressure on the country’s electricity generation system.

According to the president, Cuba has been relying on a combination of natural gas, solar power and thermoelectric plants to maintain energy supply. Still, shortages of fuel oil and diesel have forced some power plants to shut down and limited electricity generation capacity, highlighting the broader economic challenges facing the Caribbean nation.