In a candid interview with Tania Costa for CiberCuba, Cuban-American journalist and former Radio Martí director Roberto Rodríguez Tejera expressed skepticism about ongoing talks between Washington and Havana. He argues that these discussions aren't aimed at establishing genuine democracy in Cuba but rather at replicating the Venezuelan model. According to Rodríguez Tejera, the goal is to find a figure within Cuba's repressive apparatus who can ensure stability while facilitating the transfer of the island's wealth to American business interests.
Rodríguez Tejera draws a bold parallel: just as the United States accepted Delcy Rodríguez as a transitional figure in Venezuela following Nicolás Maduro's fall, it seeks a similar operative in Cuba.
"The United States is searching for someone who can maintain social peace in Cuba, someone akin to Diosdado Cabello and Delcy Rodríguez, who can hold power to then hand over Cuba's wealth to American entrepreneurs. For me, as a Cuban, that is unacceptable," he stated.
The journalist contrasts this approach with the thaw initiated by Barack Obama in 2014, highlighting that those negotiations were conducted under extreme secrecy. "The negotiation was completely secret. So much so that the State Department wasn't informed; not only were Cubans unaware, but even the State Department was kept out of the loop."
While acknowledging that Cubans were not represented in those earlier discussions either, Rodríguez Tejera insists the aim was different: to open up the Cuban economy rather than perpetuate the regime. He recounts how Fidel Castro balked at what he perceived as a "poison pill," effectively halting the process.
Rodríguez Tejera believes that if Cuba had changed course back then, the events of July 11 wouldn't have occurred, and Cuba wouldn't be in its current dire state.
He places the blame for Cuba's crisis squarely on those who've ruled the island for decades. "The regime's leaders bear 90% of the responsibility. They need to be changed, not perpetuated through negotiation," he declared, emphasizing the central risk of the current talks.
These negotiations, he noted, are acknowledged by both sides, though they present differing accounts of their scope. Last Friday, Trump told the UN that the United States and Cuba would "make a deal" and ruled out military intervention. Meanwhile, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla admitted to discussions but denied the existence of a formal table. Journalistic reports suggest that Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as "El Cangrejo," has acted as an informal interlocutor, bypassing Miguel Díaz-Canel's channels.
In the interview, Rodríguez Tejera also touched on opposition figures in the U.S. living off grants. He questioned whether CiberCuba could maintain its independent journalism if reliant on U.S. government funding. "Perhaps, but maybe not. You are paying the price for independent journalism and have achieved extraordinary success," he commented.
His warning comes amid uncertainty about the potential secret agreement between Cuba and the U.S., despite leaks. Former Obama-era thaw negotiator Ricardo Zúñiga admitted in January 2026 that internal divisions in Cuba, unlike in Venezuela, prevent a negotiated solution due to the regime's enduring "hard core."
Understanding U.S.-Cuba Negotiations
What is the main goal of the current U.S.-Cuba negotiations?
The primary aim appears to be finding a Cuban figure who can ensure stability while facilitating the transfer of wealth to American businesses, rather than establishing democracy.
How does Rodríguez Tejera view the U.S. strategy for Cuba?
Rodríguez Tejera criticizes it as seeking to replicate Venezuela's model by finding a Cuban equivalent to Delcy Rodríguez and Diosdado Cabello to maintain power and allow American business interests to thrive.
How does the current negotiation differ from Obama's 2014 thaw?
While the Obama-era thaw was also secretive, its goal was to open the Cuban economy, not to perpetuate the regime, according to Rodríguez Tejera.