Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel reaffirmed Thursday that his country was "ready for dialogue" with Washington, but "without pressure" or "preconditions." The White House spokesperson, for her part, declared that a “diplomatic dialogue” was underway with the Cuban government.

Published on: 06/02/2026 - 01:19

The President of Cuba, Miguel Diaz-Canel, reiterated on Thursday February 5 that his country was "ready for dialogue", but "without pressure" or "interference" from the United States, which for its part affirms that discussions are already underway.

"Cuba is ready for a dialogue with the United States, for a dialogue on any of the subjects that we wish to debate or discuss. Under what conditions? Without pressure (...), without preconditions", declared the Cuban president during a press conference broadcast on national television.

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Miguel Diaz-Canel stressed the need for such a dialogue to be carried out "without addressing issues that are specific to us and which we can consider as interference in our internal affairs", while Washington has not hidden its desire to see a change of regime on the communist island.

Miguel Diaz-Canel 'should be wise'

“I think that given that the Cuban government is in agony and that his country is on the verge of collapse,” Miguel Diaz-Canel “should be wise in the statements he addresses to the President of the United States,” replied White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt at a press conference. “The president (Trump) is always willing to engage in diplomatic dialogue and I believe that is something that is happening with the Cuban government,” she insisted.

While Cuba is locked in a severe economic crisis, Donald Trump has assured since mid-January that talks are underway with the government in Havana. He even said on Sunday that he saw an “agreement” with his neighbor and ideological enemy.

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Cuba says for its part that there have been "exchanges of messages" between the two governments, but no "dialogue strictly speaking".

After drying up deliveries from Venezuela following the capture of President Nicolas Maduro in early January, Donald Trump further increased pressure on Havana. He signed an executive order last week stating that the United States could impose tariffs on countries selling oil to Havana, and he assured that Mexico, which has supplied Cuba with oil since 2023, would stop doing so.

“Acute fuel shortage”

To justify its policy, Washington cites an “exceptional threat” that Cuba, a Caribbean island located just 150 km from the coast of Florida, would pose to American national security. For its part, Havana accuses Donald Trump of wanting to "suffocate" the island's economy, already subject to an American economic embargo, and where power cuts and fuel shortages, already numerous in recent years, have become even more pronounced.

At the same time, the US State Department announced on Thursday the sending of additional humanitarian aid of six million dollars through the Cuban Catholic Church with which Washington cooperates. A first aid shipment of three million dollars in January for victims of Hurricane Melissa – which hit the island in October – was described as “political manipulation” by Havana.

During his press conference, Miguel Diaz-Canel acknowledged that Washington's pressure policy was causing an "acute fuel shortage" on the island of 9.6 million inhabitants. In recent weeks, electricity production generated by generators running on diesel and fuel oil has been "zero" for lack of fuel, thus worsening the cuts in the country, he admitted.

Currently, the network relies on electricity provided by its aging network of thermal power plants operating using oil extracted on the island, and the forty photovoltaic parks installed in 2025.

Miguel Diaz-Canel also indicated that his country was looking for alternative oil supplies. “We cannot openly explain everything we do,” but “Cuba is not alone,” assured the Head of State, referring to foreign governments, companies or institutions that have expressed interest in supporting Cuba in this matter, without giving more details on this support.

The president also affirmed that his country would continue the development of renewable energies, which now represent 10% of the country's energy production, compared to 3% before 2023.

With AFP

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