Under Trump's threats, Cuba for the first time admits to having held talks with the United States

According to CCTV News, a White House official stated on the 13th local time that U.S. President Trump said the United States is in contact with Cuba and that the Cuban leadership should reach an agreement, which “is easily achievable.”

Earlier that day, Cuban President Díaz-Canel confirmed for the first time that Cuban officials had held talks with the U.S. government aimed at resolving differences through dialogue.

An unnamed White House official said the U.S. is engaging in dialogue with Cuba, and that “Cuba should reach an agreement.” He added, “Cuba is a declining country, suffering major setbacks due to the loss of support from Venezuela and Mexico stopping oil shipments.”

On March 13, 2026, local time, in Havana, Cuba, a tricycle decorated with the American flag is seen driving on the street. Visual China Photo

This dialogue is taking place against the backdrop of strict U.S. sanctions, oil embargoes, and Trump’s threats of takeover. According to a report from Russia’s Izvestia on March 6, Trump said during a White House speech on the 5th that future actions against Cuba are just a matter of time, but the U.S. hopes to “resolve Iran first.” On February 27, Trump also stated that the U.S. is considering a so-called “friendly takeover” of Cuba, which is currently in deep trouble. A few days earlier, he also claimed that military action against Cuba would not be difficult.

Meanwhile, Díaz-Canel said at a press conference on the 13th that FBI experts are expected to go to Cuba to participate in the investigation of the speedboat incident and cooperate with the Cuban Ministry of the Interior to clarify the details. Cuba is currently awaiting visits from relevant personnel to further advance the investigation.

The Cuban government stated on February 25 that a U.S. speedboat entered Cuban waters that day and exchanged fire with law enforcement officers, resulting in 4 deaths and 6 injuries among the 10 armed personnel on board. U.S. Secretary of State Blinken later said he had received a report from Cuba but denied that any U.S. government personnel were involved.

Recently, the U.S. has further tightened policies against Cuba, including signing an executive order authorizing tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, attempting to cut off its energy supply chain. During a press conference on the 13th, Díaz-Canel detailed the impact of the energy crisis on Cuba, saying some communities have experienced power outages for over 30 hours, causing “suffering” among residents. “Currently, thousands of people nationwide cannot undergo surgeries due to lack of electricity. There are solutions, but the scale of the problem is too large—you can’t see these solutions,” he said.

A leaked internal memo reviewed by The Washington Post shows that the U.S. Embassy in Cuba estimates Cuba’s energy shortage to be around 60%. Domestic oil production can meet at most a quarter of its needs, which should be enough to power hospitals and other critical facilities. However, Cuba may reach a critical point where wastewater treatment and hydroelectric power could cease.

The U.S. Embassy in Cuba has already been affected by the energy shortage, with only half of the staff working and some residential generators limited to four hours of operation per day. The memo also mentioned that the embassy has provided these residences with battery packs, solar panels, and satellite phones.

Reporter Nan Boyi, The Paper