HAVANA — Cuba rejected Friday any suggestion that its political system or the term of its president were subject to negotiation in talks with the United States. This decision follows reports that Washington sought to remove Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel from power as part of a broader diplomatic strategy. Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio made the declaration during a press conference at the International Press Center in Havana on Friday.
The Cuban official emphasized that neither the president nor the position of any official in Cuba is subject to negotiation with the United States government. This categorical confirmation comes after weeks of speculation regarding the scope and intent of the ongoing bilateral discussions. Washington reportedly sought to include a political off-ramp for Diaz-Canel as part of a broader economic agreement designed to stabilize the island.
Reports from USA Today and The New York Times indicated that the Trump administration was preparing an economic deal to relax trade restrictions significantly. These sources claimed the proposal would specifically target the removal of Diaz-Canel with two years remaining on his current term. The administration reportedly aimed to push the current leader from power while leaving the family of former presidents Fidel and Raul Castro untouched.
Fidel Castro died in 2016 but Raul Castro, 94, remains highly influential eight years after handing the presidency over to Diaz-Canel. The proposed arrangement would resemble what has happened in Venezuela, where the United States deposed President Nicolas Maduro on Jan. three. Rather than attempt to install an opposition government, the U.S. has cooperated with Acting President Delcy Rodriguez.
However, authority in Cuba is spread widely among senior Communist Party leaders, other government officials and the armed forces. This distribution differs from the concentration of power that characterized the Castro years from the start of the 1959 revolution until Diaz-Canel term began in 2018. Such structural differences may complicate any attempt to replicate the Venezuelan model of leadership transition effectively.
De Cossio, who has led the foreign ministry office on U.S. relations, declined to offer further details of the bilateral discussions. He left unanswered the questions of where and when they are taking place within the current geopolitical climate. Despite the silence on logistics, he acknowledged there were plenty of topics of mutual interest between the two nations.
These topics include trade between the two countries that has been severed by the comprehensive U.S. economic embargo against Cuba. The blockade imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump pushes the Communist-run nation deeper into economic crisis. De Cossio noted that the economic pressure is a significant factor driving the current diplomatic engagement.
He also mentioned longstanding economic compensation that each country seeks regarding historical grievances and property losses. Cuba has claims against the United States for damages caused by the embargo over the last several decades. Conversely, there are 5,913 claims from Americans whose properties were nationalized in Cuba after the 1959 revolution.
These are very complex issues that can be discussed, but they require dialogue, de Cossio stated during the briefing. He insisted that they require sitting down and are legitimate matters for negotiation between sovereign states. The Vice Foreign Minister emphasized that economic compensation remains a priority for both Havana and Washington.
The outcome of these talks will determine the stability of the Caribbean region and the future of U.S.-Cuba relations. Observers will watch closely to see if the economic blockade is lifted in exchange for political concessions. The situation remains fluid as both sides navigate the complexities of sovereignty and economic survival.
