Overview
- Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said officials have recently engaged U.S. representatives, the first public confirmation of current contacts.
- He described an acute energy emergency with no fuel shipments in roughly three months, blackouts exceeding 30 hours in some areas, and tens of thousands of surgeries postponed.
- Cuba’s Foreign Ministry said 51 prisoners will be released in the coming days as a goodwill gesture following contacts with the Vatican.
- Washington has tightened pressure since January by blocking oil flows, cutting off Venezuelan supplies and threatening tariffs on third-country shipments, as President Trump touts the prospect of an easy deal and floats a “friendly takeover.”
- Two U.S. officials say Secretary of State Marco Rubio met late last month with Raúl Castro’s grandson in the Caribbean, though neither side has disclosed terms and Cuba says any process must proceed on a basis of equality and respect.