Cuba Engages in Diplomatic Talks with U.S. to Address Energy Blockade
Cuba has confirmed a recent meeting with U.S. officials on the island, marking the first such diplomatic engagement since 2016. The discussions come amid heightened tensions over the U.S. energy blockade imposed on Cuba. According to Alejandro García del Toro, deputy director general in charge of U.S. affairs at the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the U.S. delegation included assistant secretaries of state, while the Cuban side was represented by deputy foreign ministers. The talks were described as respectful and professional, with Cuba prioritizing the lifting of the energy embargo, which it views as an unjustified economic coercion affecting the Cuban population. The U.S. has set conditions for lifting sanctions, including demands for Cuba to end political repression and release political prisoners. In January, President Trump threatened tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, further escalating tensions. 
