Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed on March 13, 2026, that Cuban officials have engaged in formal talks with representatives of the Trump administration. The discussions come amid a worsening energy crisis on the island, exacerbated by U.S. sanctions including a blockade on fuel imports.
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Díaz-Canel said the talks aim to identify both countries’ willingness to take concrete actions, emphasizing that negotiations remain in an initial phase without agreements reached. This marks the first official acknowledgment by the Cuban government of direct dialogue with Washington under the Trump White House.
The discussions reportedly involve Marco Rubio, U.S. Senator and son of Cuban immigrants, with Cuban negotiator Raul Rodriguez Castro, grandson of former Cuban leader Raul Castro. Rubio has been tasked by the Trump administration to negotiate with Havana amid increasing tensions and a crippling domestic energy shortage.
The energy crisis intensified after the U.S. cut off oil exports to Cuba following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro earlier this year. Cuban officials report severe strain across key sectors such as transportation, health, and education, including over 11,000 children on surgery waiting lists.
Díaz-Canel also confirmed plans to cooperate with an FBI team in investigating a recent armed confrontation involving Cuban coast guard forces and 10 Cuban-Americans, reflecting ongoing security complexities linked to U.S.-Cuba relations.
The Cuban government has maintained that political system changes are off-limits during these negotiations. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has publicly hinted at a potential “friendly takeover” of Cuba and described the possibility of a deal as “very easily made.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to the White House for comment.
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