President Miguel Díaz-Canel announces talks between Cuban and American authorities to seek solutions through dialogue
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel (Communist Party of Cuba, left) confirmed that Cuban officials participated in recent conversations with representatives of the United States government. The statement was made this Friday (13 March 2026) during a meeting with Cuban authorities. Official recognition of the negotiations takes place between Havana and Washington.
“The conversations were aimed at seeking solutions, through dialogue, for the bilateral differences we have between the two nations”said Díaz-Canel in a broadcast on the country’s state broadcaster. The confirmation of negotiations comes after US President Donald Trump (Republican Party) publicly pressured the Cuban regime to “reach an agreement”.
The republican government classifies Cuba as a “exceptional threat”especially due to the island’s relations with Russia, China and Iran. Trump does not hide his interest in promoting regime change in the Caribbean country and has threatened to impose consequences if Havana does not agree to negotiate.
Cuba is going through one that has paralyzed its economy. The situation worsened after the United States stopped oil supplies from Venezuela. The country was the island’s main supplier. The North American government also threatened to sanction other countries that sell fuel to Cuba, a measure that intensifies economic isolation.
Díaz-Canel’s statements confirm information previously released by Trump. In January 2026, the president had indicated that his government was holding talks with high-ranking authorities on the island. The North American press mentioned Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, as one of the interlocutors in these negotiations.
Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, grandson of former president Raúl Castro, was present at the meeting.
HUMANITARIAN AID
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum (Morena, left) reacted positively to the announcement of the negotiations. In an interview with journalists this Friday (13th March), Sheinbaum declared: “Mexico will always promote peace and diplomatic dialogue and, in particular, in the face of this injustice that has been committed for many years against the people of Cuba with the blockade”.
An international convoy is scheduled to arrive in Havana on March 21, 2026. The initiative will transport more than 20 tons of food, medicine and solar energy equipment. The project has the support of climate activist Greta Thunberg and aims to alleviate the effects of the crisis affecting the Cuban population.
RELEASE OF 51 PRISONERS
The Cuban government announced on Thursday night (March 12, 2026) with the support of the Vatican. Authorities did not provide the names of the beneficiaries or the reasons for their convictions. The Catholic Church has acted as a mediator between Cuba and the United States for decades. The institution remains a channel for dialogue in moments of bilateral tension.
The Vatican played a fundamental role in the rapprochement of diplomatic relations between the 2 countries in 2015. The process took place during the second term of former American president Barack Obama (Democrat). The religious institution continues to play an intermediary role in negotiations between Washington and Havana.
The expectations of family members of political prisoners increased with the possibility of release mediated by the Vatican. The Cuban government’s announcement did not specify when the releases would take place. It also did not inform which criteria were used to select the beneficiaries.
Díaz-Canel emphasized that this is a “very delicate process”. According to him, the process “it requires enormous and arduous efforts to find common ground that allows us to move forward and move away from confrontation”. The Cuban president recognized the complexity of negotiations between the two countries.
