Bruno Rodríguez Criticizes Stalled U.S.-Cuba Talks, Calls for U.N. Session

On Tuesday, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla declared that discussions between Havana and Washington are at a standstill with no signs of progress. He also announced that Cuba plans to request a United Nations General Assembly session on July 7 to address the tightening of U.S. sanctions.

During a press conference in Havana, the Foreign Minister stated that bilateral talks have yielded no outcomes and accused President Donald Trump’s administration of combining diplomatic dialogue with increasing pressure on the island.

"There is no advancement in the talks between Cuba and the U.S. The conduct of U.S. government delegations—typically respectful—has been accompanied by constant threats against Cuba, the implementation of coercive measures, and offensive statements regarding our nation's independence," he said, as reported by Cubadebate.

Despite this situation, Rodríguez emphasized that the Cuban government remains willing to engage in dialogue.

"Cuba is open to dialogue and the peaceful resolution of differences, based on mutual respect and non-interference in Cuba's internal affairs," he affirmed.

So far, the U.S. State Department has not publicly responded to Rodríguez's remarks, according to Reuters.

Background on U.S.-Cuba Discussions

The official talks between the two governments began on March 13, 2026, when Havana confirmed the opening of an exploratory channel described by Deputy Foreign Minister Josefina Vidal as a "very preliminary" stage. Since then, the Trump administration has progressively expanded sanctions against Cuba, including energy restrictions and new measures targeting state entities and high-ranking regime officials.

In this context, Rodríguez announced that Cuba would request an extraordinary session of the U.N. General Assembly under the topic of ending the U.S. embargo.

"We have decided to request a session of the United Nations General Assembly," said the Foreign Minister, accusing the U.S. mission to the U.N. and its embassies of diplomatic pressure in recent weeks to prevent the meeting from happening.

According to the minister, Washington is circulating documents among member states aimed at discrediting the Cuban initiative. Rodríguez displayed three of these texts during the conference, titled "It's Time for Change in Cuba," "The Regime Must Reform, Do Not Vote with Its Propaganda," and another that allegedly links Cuba to the war in Ukraine.

Impact of U.S. Sanctions on Cuba

"They attempt to silence your voice and your right to speak on an issue directly related to international peace and security and the well-being of the entire world," he said, referring to U.N. member countries.

The Foreign Minister also mentioned the recent package of 176 economic measures approved by the National Assembly, rejecting claims that these measures were a response to U.S. pressure.

"These measures are a matter of sovereignty. We have not listened to nor are we interested in the United States' opinion," he stated.

Rodríguez further asserted that U.S. sanctions caused losses exceeding $7 billion in 2025 and increased the embargo's cumulative cost to the Cuban economy to more than $170 billion, according to government estimates.

The extraordinary session requested by Havana is scheduled for July 7, several months before the traditional annual General Assembly vote on the embargo, which typically occurs in October.