Cuba Refutes Trump's UN Statements: Deputy Foreign Minister Denies Progress in US Negotiations

Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, has countered President Donald Trump's remarks at the United Nations General Assembly, dismissing any claims of progress in dialogues between Havana and Washington.

"Clearly, there are no advancements," stated the diplomat to the state-run Prensa Latina during the High-Level Segment of the 81st session of the UN held in New York.

This denial comes shortly after Trump labeled Cuba as a "completely failed state" at the same forum and appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio as the lead in discussions with the island's regime.

"Marco Rubio is handling negotiations. He's deeply involved in talks with Cuba. We'll see what transpires," Trump declared in his speech.

The Cuban delegation exited the plenary during Trump's address, a move Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla described as a response to "falsehoods and slanders."

Continued Sanctions and Diplomatic Tensions

Fernández de Cossío argued that no progress can be identified "when the US government imposes new coercive punitive measures on the Cuban people weekly or biweekly, continuing to reinforce the brutal economic war."

While he acknowledged the existence of contacts, he framed them as part of routine diplomatic relations: "We have formal diplomatic ties with the United States, hence an official channel for communication." He added that these matters are "handled discreetly, in line with our practice."

These statements are the latest in a series of denials, clarifications, and confirmations starting in January 2026. "There's no dialogue table, although we are open to discussions," Fernández de Cossío asserted in early February.

Shifts in Cuban-US Relations

After repeatedly denying any political contact or conversation, the regime gradually relented: in March, Díaz-Canel confirmed that Cuban officials were engaging in talks with Washington representatives to "seek solutions through dialogue," acknowledging Raúl Castro's leadership in that process.

By April, the regime announced a meeting with a US delegation in Havana. In statements to the official Granma newspaper, Alejandro García del Toro, Deputy Director-General for the US at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed the meeting involved high-level representatives from both governments.

Amidst this backdrop, the Guantánamo Naval Base was also a venue for high-level exchanges. On May 29, the US Southern Command's General Francis L. Donovan met with Cuban General Roberto Legrá Sotolongo, in what Havana deemed a "positive" encounter, while SOUTHCOM described it as an operational security exchange.

Shortly after, on June 10, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth visited the base, asserting the War Department's preparedness for any potential eventuality concerning Cuba and cautioning Havana against acquiring weaponry capable of threatening the installation or US territory.

Noteworthy Diplomatic Engagements

The most visible milestone in these interactions was CIA Director John Ratcliffe's visit to Havana on May 14, where he met with top Cuban officials, including Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, Raúl Castro's grandson, and Interior Minister General of the Army Corps Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas.

In July, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz confirmed that a negotiating team was operating with the endorsement of Raúl Castro and Díaz-Canel. By the end of that month, Fernández de Cossío admitted Cuba had accepted a "communication channel" proposed by Washington, although he clarified: "We do not use the term negotiations."

On September 8, Rodríguez Parrilla acknowledged the existence of conversations but stated they "show no progress" and denied the existence of "negotiations, agreements, or roadmaps." Fernández de Cossío's recent declaration mirrors this stance almost exactly.

Meanwhile, Rubio expressed openness to collaborating with regime figures without "blood on their hands," sending a direct message to Havana: "They have an opportunity to start putting their country on an irreversible path toward progress and a better future. This undoubtedly involves both political and economic freedom."

While the regime insists there's no progress, John Kavulich, President of the US-Cuba Trade and Economic Council, claimed that daily contacts occur between the two governments through private actors and that US companies already have investment agreements "underway" in Cuba.

"There may not be much traditional diplomacy right now, but there's still a form of dialogue happening every day," he said.