Díaz-Canel Confirms U.S. Talks, Says He Leads Team With Raúl Castro

Overview

• In a state television video and subsequent press remarks, Miguel Díaz-Canel said negotiations seek solutions through dialogue to longstanding bilateral differences.
• He said he is leading the Cuban side with former president Raúl Castro and other senior officials, while withholding the identity of the U.S. participants.
• State footage showed Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro seated behind Díaz-Canel, signaling the Castro family’s visible presence around the talks.
• A White House official said Washington is negotiating and relayed President Trump’s view that a deal could be easily reached after his recent “friendly takeover” warning.
• Díaz-Canel linked the outreach to a worsening fuel and power emergency he blames on U.S.-related oil constraints, citing three months without fuel imports, an unstable grid, and outages topping 12 hours in parts of Havana.