Diaz-Canel reveals Raul Castro's role in US-Cuba dialogues amid escalating energy crisis from Trump's embargo.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel stated that former President Raul Castro is involved in preliminary talks with the United States, as reported in a videotaped interview shared by state media.
These discussions occur amid heightened tensions following US President Donald Trump's recent comments that he would be 'honored' to take over Cuba, exacerbating the existing oil blockade.
Background on the Oil Blockade
The US oil blockade, implemented by Trump, has led to nationwide blackouts in Cuba, with the island experiencing no fuel shipments for three months, resulting in prolonged power outages and economic disruptions.
Raul Castro, aged 94 and brother of Fidel Castro, remains a key figure in Cuban leadership and previously led negotiations with former US President Barack Obama in 2014, which reopened embassies and restored diplomatic ties.
Diaz-Canel described the current talks as requiring a structured approach, including building dialogue channels and common agendas, while emphasizing the need for commitment from both sides.
The blockade's impacts include a near-paralysis of daily life, with warnings from United Nations resident coordinator Francisco Pichon of a potential humanitarian crisis if unresolved.
International officials, including UN chief Antonio Guterres and WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, have highlighted the deepening energy and health crises in Cuba, calling for $94 million in aid to address power shortages and hurricane damage from the previous year.
