Cuban Government Claims There Are No Formal Negotiations with the U.S.: "We Have Communication Channels"

The Cuban government asserts that while communication channels with the United States are open, these interactions do not amount to formal negotiations. This statement comes as the Trump administration increases pressure on Havana.

Lianys Torres Rivera, the Chargé d'Affaires at the Cuban Embassy in Washington, made this statement during an interview with Reuters on Monday.

"What we have with the United States are communication channels," Torres Rivera stated, according to the report.

The diplomat clarified that recent interactions between the two governments have included meetings, phone calls, and WhatsApp messages. However, she emphasized that there has been no progress toward a formal negotiation agenda or the resumption of official talks.

Torres did not provide specifics on the timing of these exchanges, the topics discussed, or the participants involved.

Nevertheless, her description contradicts President Trump's remarks at the United Nations last month, where he declared that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was "deeply involved in negotiations" with Havana.

Trump also labeled Cuba as a "failed state" and predicted the downfall of its government, as reported by Reuters.

When questioned by the agency about the diplomatic contacts, a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, offered no details but stated that Washington is ready to "open a new chapter" in its relationship with Cuba.

"The only thing standing in the way of a better future are those who control Cuba for their own benefit at the expense of the Cuban people," the official told Reuters.

Torres reiterated that the Cuban government remains open to a "respectful" dialogue with the United States. However, she emphasized one of Havana's main conditions: the Cuban political system will not be up for negotiation.

According to the diplomat, this remains a "red line" for the Cuban government, which views U.S. demands for political changes as an infringement on its sovereignty.

She also stated that Havana is not "naive" regarding Trump's statements and confirmed that Cuba has increased its preparations against a potential U.S. military action.

"Cuba has always been preparing for U.S. aggression," she stated. "And now we are increasing our capabilities more than ever [...] It's for our defense."

Torres Rivera's remarks are not the first acknowledgment from the Cuban government about these contacts.

In recent weeks, several high-ranking Cuban officials have confirmed ongoing communication with Washington, though they emphasize that it is not a formal negotiation.

On September 25, Bruno Rodríguez admitted that "some episodes of conversation" with U.S. officials had occurred and expressed the regime's willingness to continue them, although he noted they had yet to yield results.

Weeks earlier, the foreign minister confirmed that "there have been talks with the State Department" and that "communications are maintained," though he stated there had been no advances.

The distinction between communication and negotiation was also made in July by Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío. In an interview with Al Jazeera, he confirmed that the regime had accepted a communication channel proposed by the United States.

"A few months ago, we had what we call a communication channel. We don't use the word negotiations because we weren't negotiating anything concrete," Fernández de Cossío explained.

Back in May, Torres herself had stated that Havana was willing to discuss bilateral issues with Washington, excluding Cuba's political system and internal order from any discussion.