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President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday that the United States is in dialogue with Cuba, which could mark a new chapter in the relations between the two countries after more than six decades of tensions.
During an interview with NBC News, Trump stated that “we are talking to Cuba” and mentioned that thousands of people who were forced to leave the island might have the chance to return.
The president emphasized that this possibility had been discussed for years, but that now it is "finally happening."
"We have tens of thousands of people who were expelled from Cuba. They might want to return. They will have that option. For years, it was talked about that this would happen, and now it is occurring," stated the president.
Trump's words are interpreted as a direct reference to the Cuban exiles who left the country at various stages—from the early years of Fidel Castro's regime to the more recent migration crises—and who could benefit from a potential opening for voluntary return.
In recent days, Trump has insisted that he is in talks with high-ranking officials of the Cuban regime, a claim he has repeated in various settings. He has even stated that an agreement is close.
However, Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío assured that the island's government is not currently engaged in dialogue with the United States, but expressed a willingness to initiate one if certain criteria are met.
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