Miguel Díaz‑Canel said Wednesday that Raúl Castro is involved in discussions between Cuba and the United States, describing the contacts as being in the initial phase.
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Díaz-Canel said the dialogue process is still developing and stressed that negotiations typically take time. The comments came during a recorded interview with Pablo Iglesias that was later shared by Cuban state media.
Cuba confirms early contacts with Washington
According to Díaz-Canel, the talks are being handled collectively by the Cuban leadership, with Castro helping guide how the government approaches potential negotiations. Castro, now 94, stepped down from formal leadership but remains an influential figure within the ruling system.
Díaz-Canel said the first step in any negotiation is establishing a channel for dialogue, followed by identifying shared interests and confirming both sides are willing to move forward with meaningful engagement.
Tensions rise amid US pressure
The talks come during a period of strained relations between the two countries under Donald Trump. The United States has tightened pressure on Havana, including measures aimed at restricting fuel supplies to the island.
Earlier this year, Trump threatened tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba. Although some of the initial warnings were later softened, restrictions remain in place. Cuban officials say the island has not received fuel shipments for roughly three months.
The measures have deepened a severe energy crisis. Cuba’s ageing power grid has suffered repeated failures, triggering prolonged blackouts that have disrupted daily life and economic activity across the country.
In the past week alone, two nationwide outages left millions without electricity. Authorities say the outages reflect the deteriorating condition of the energy system combined with fuel shortages.
Trump has also warned that the United States could take stronger action against Cuba’s government, further raising tensions between Washington and Havana.
Castro remains influential
Díaz-Canel rejected suggestions that disagreements exist within Cuba’s leadership over relations with the United States. He said Castro continues to play a guiding role alongside the government and the ruling Communist Party.
He described the former president as a historic leader who retains significant authority because of his political legacy and standing among the Cuban public.
Castro previously oversaw a major diplomatic breakthrough with the United States. In 2014, he held talks with Barack Obama that led to the restoration of diplomatic relations and the reopening of embassies in both countries.
Many of those rapprochement measures were later rolled back during Trump’s presidency as Washington imposed tougher sanctions on the island.
UN warns of worsening crisis
International organisations say the energy shortages are contributing to a broader humanitarian challenge.
United Nations officials warned that the situation could worsen if Cuba’s remaining fuel reserves are depleted. They said prolonged shortages could lead to further economic disruption and risks to public welfare.
UN representatives also pointed to renewable energy as a potential partial solution, highlighting solar power systems that could help maintain operations in hospitals, schools and water infrastructure.
Officials cautioned that without additional fuel supplies or rapid energy improvements, the crisis could intensify in the coming months.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 26 March 2026