Diaz-Canel Acknowledges Talks With Trump Administration

[MrBirdman]

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/13/world/americas/cuba-us-talks-trump-oil.html?unlocked_article_code=1.S1A.S6MU.mkMJftKdE4NQ&smid=url-share
 

In what was seen as a last-ditch effort to save his hobbled government, President Miguel Díaz-Canel of Cuba announced on Friday that his government had been holding talks with the Trump administration while managing an increasingly severe lack of fuel.

Cuba’s government is facing an existential crisis as the Trump administration ratchets up pressure on the 67-year-old Communist state, maintaining what amounts to an oil blockade. Fuel is rapidly running out, plunging Cuba into prolonged periods of darkness.

Though the discussions with the United States had previously been reported by U.S. news outlets, it was the first time the government had acknowledged that talks were underway.……..

[El Presidente]

Cuba says it will release 51 prisoners in the coming days

7 hours ago

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Malu Cursino

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Díaz-Canel said Cuba's electricity grid was increasingly "unstable".

Cuba will release 51 prisoners in the coming days as a demonstration of "goodwill" following talks with the Vatican, Havana's government has said.

It did not specify whether they included political prisoners, but it said they had all "served a significant portion of their sentences and have maintained good conduct while in prison".

The release comes as Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said that US and Cuban officials were holding talks to find solutions to the two countries' differences. He said no fuel had entered Cuba in three months.

US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Cuba was in "deep trouble" as he threatened a "friendly takeover" of the Caribbean country.

 

 

[rcarlson]

Cuba might be in talks, but its government has absolutely zero leverage. Seems to me that the main matters to address are a the shift to democracy, reestablishing trade with the U.S., and ensuring the safety of current Communist leaders. I think it's highly unlikely that the Communist dictatorship can endure much longer, and it wouldn't be surprising if a move towards democracy and a modern economy is announced soon. These are also the statutory conditions required to lift the embargo.  

[REesq]

Maybe the top brass just wants the deal that Trump offered Maduro - free ticket out of the country with his money.  It has been reported that the Cuban military-controlled conglomerate, GAESA (Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A.) holds approximately $18 billion in current assets. That's enough for a good start somewhere else.