President Trump says Cuba may or may not do a ‘friendly takeover’
President Donald Trump has said the United States may or may not take a “friendly takeover” of Cuba.
News of Cuba’s recent overnight power outages and long lines for fuel has begun to spread across the island and resonate among millions of Cubans abroad. Havana has confirmed it is holding talks with Washington.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel acknowledged on March 13 that his government remains in contact with officials from President Donald Trump’s administration, opening the door to what could be one of the most significant economic changes between the two countries in more than 60 years. The negotiations, which are still in their early stages, come amid a severe energy crisis on the island and growing political pressure from the United States.
Are Cuba and the US negotiating an agreement? What we know so far
Díaz-Canel’s announcement was made during an intervention broadcast on Cuban state television and was expanded upon at a subsequent press conference. According to the president, the meeting seeks to “resolve bilateral differences between the two countries through dialogue.”
Although the White House has not publicly commented, Havana’s official confirmation confirms recent reports of secret contacts between U.S. officials and representatives of the Cuban government. Analysts say the deal, if finalized, could be the most significant economic opening since Cuba’s large-scale nationalization following the 1959 revolution.
President Trump has indicated he wants a “deal” with Cuba in Washington as his administration maintains economic pressure on the country. This strategy seeks to force economic or political changes that could affect trade relations, American travel to Cuba, and investment opportunities in Cuba.
Cuba’s energy crisis: Why is fuel at the center of the conversation?
The talks took place amid the worst energy crisis Cuba has faced in years. Díaz-Canel acknowledged that no fuel has entered the country for more than three months and that the situation has caused repeated power outages, affecting the daily lives of millions of Cubans.
The Cuban government blames the shortage on restrictions imposed by the U.S. government on oil exports to the island. In January, the Trump administration declared a national emergency related to Cuba and threatened sanctions on countries sending fuel to the Caribbean nation.
Trade experts such as John Cavulich of the U.S.-Cuba Trade and Economic Council say there are two sides to Washington’s strategy. On the one hand, we are seeking commercial and financial agreements. On the other hand, it puts pressure on political or behavioral changes within the Cuban system.
Prisoner release and Vatican mediation: A sign of a thaw?
Another element that drew attention was the announcement that 51 people would be released from Cuban prisons in the coming days in an agreement brokered by the Vatican. Although the Cuban government has not disclosed details, the move is reminiscent of a similar process that followed the restoration of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States in 2014.
Human rights groups note that there are still more than 1,000 political prisoners on the island, including participants in the July 11, 2021 protests. Civil society groups say any agreement with Washington should include the full release of politically motivated prisoners.
Meanwhile, Díaz-Canel also noted that the growing role of Cubans living abroad, whose community has exceeded 2 million people in recent years, could influence economic or political changes on the island.
What this means for Cubans in the US and the future of bilateral relations
For Cubans living in the United States, particularly in Florida, New Jersey, and New York, these conversations may have concrete implications. A deal could change rules for travel, trade, remittances and private investment between the two countries.
For now, this process is still in its early stages and there is no clear timeline. But public confirmation of the contacts suggests something is going on behind diplomatic doors that have remained closed for decades.
If those doors were to open, it would not only change the relationship between Washington and Havana. It could also redefine Cuba’s economic future and the island’s connections to its broader diaspora in the United States.
Contributed by: USA TODAY
Boris Q’va is a national Spanish language trends news reporter for Connect/USA TODAY Network. You can follow him on X as @ByBorisQva or write to him at BBalsindesUrquiola@gannett.com.
