HAVANA — The Cuban government acknowledged Monday that American diplomats recently traveled to the island for high-level discussions, marking the first such diplomatic visit since 2016 amid ongoing tensions over U.S. economic sanctions targeting the Caribbean nation’s energy sector.
Anonymous State Department sources revealed Friday that American officials had flown to Cuba earlier this month as part of renewed diplomatic efforts. However, neither Washington nor Havana has disclosed the precise timing of these talks or identified the specific U.S. representatives involved.
Alejandro García del Toro, who oversees U.S. relations at Cuba’s Foreign Ministry, disclosed Monday that the American team featured assistant secretaries of state, while Cuba’s side included officials at the deputy foreign minister level.
García del Toro characterized the discussions as conducted in a “respectfully and professionally” manner, contradicting some American media reports by stating that the U.S. delegation made no threats or imposed any deadlines.
“The elimination of the energy embargo against the country was a top priority for our delegation,” García del Toro stated. “This act of economic coercion is an unjustified punishment of the entire Cuban population.”
He continued: “It is also a form of global blackmail against sovereign states, which have every right to export fuel to Cuba, under the rules that govern free trade.”
The United States has outlined several demands for lifting sanctions against Cuba, including ending political oppression, freeing political detainees, and implementing economic reforms to revitalize the struggling economy.
In January, President Donald Trump warned of potential tariffs against nations that provide oil to Cuba. Trump has also suggested possible military intervention, prompting Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to declare last week that his nation stands ready to defend itself if such action occurs.
