Overview
- President Miguel Díaz-Canel said Cuban officials recently met U.S. representatives to pursue solutions through dialogue on the basis of equality and respect for each system.
- Havana has begun freeing detainees under a Vatican-facilitated arrangement, with rights groups verifying at least 14 releases so far from a pledged group of 51.
- Rights organizations report about 760 people are still jailed for political reasons, including 358 linked to the July 2021 protests.
- Washington’s de facto energy blockade since January has intensified fuel shortages and prolonged blackouts across the island.
- Mexico has endorsed the dialogue and delivered roughly 3,000 tonnes of humanitarian aid to Cuba in recent weeks.