In a notable development in the strained diplomatic relations in the Caribbean, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Thursday his country's full readiness to open channels of dialogue with the United States , while stressing that this dialogue must be based on mutual respect and without any external dictates.
Conditions for dialogue and national sovereignty
The Cuban president's remarks came during a press conference broadcast on national television, where Díaz-Canel outlined Cuba's vision for the future of relations with Washington. "Cuba is ready for dialogue with the United States, a dialogue on any topic we wish to discuss," the president said. He then clarified the essential conditions for the success of this diplomatic path: "What are the conditions? Without pressure, without preconditions.".
The Cuban president stressed that any future negotiations must be conducted on an equal footing, with full respect for Cuba’s sovereignty, independence and the right of its people to self-determination, categorically rejecting any interference in the island’s internal affairs, a position Havana has maintained for decades in the face of US policies.
The context of American threats and the energy file
These statements come at a highly sensitive time, as US President-elect Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric against the communist island. Trump has repeatedly threatened to cut off oil supplies to Cuba, citing his country's influence over Venezuelan oil, Havana's strategic ally. He has also vowed to impose hefty tariffs on any country that attempts to help Cuba break the embargo.
This maximum pressure strategy aims to strangle the already exhausted Cuban economy and push the island toward "collapse," as described by US threats, particularly by targeting the vital energy sector, which is suffering from structural crises.
Historical background of the conflict
These developments cannot be separated from the long historical context of US-Cuban relations. Since the imposition of the comprehensive economic embargo (known as "El Blocillo") in the early 1960s, relations have oscillated between complete rupture and tentative attempts at rapprochement. While the Obama administration saw a historic thaw, subsequent administrations reverted to more hardline policies, returning relations to square one of tension and mistrust.
The economic crisis and the repercussions of power outages
Domestically, Cuba is facing one of its worst economic crises in modern history. The country relies heavily on Venezuelan oil imports to power its aging power plants. The decline in these supplies, coupled with US sanctions, has plunged the country into darkness.
Earlier on Thursday, large areas in the east of the country experienced widespread power outages affecting hundreds of thousands of citizens for extended periods, due to emergency malfunctions and a severe fuel shortage. Observers believe that Cuba's willingness to engage in dialogue may be an attempt to mitigate these economic crises, which are threatening social stability in the country, while simultaneously preserving the national principles of the Cuban Revolution.
