The ruler of Cuba, Miguel Díaz-Canel, stated this Thursday that the island is open to maintaining a dialogue with the United States on any topic, with the goal of building a "civilized" and "mutually beneficial" relationship between the two countries.
In an unusual televised appearance, the leader specified that the Cuban government would be willing to discuss with Washington "without pressure or prior conditions," as long as the sovereignty and self-determination of the Caribbean nation are respected, and issues perceived by Havana as interference in its internal affairs are not addressed.
"Cuba is a country of peace. It does not pose a threat to the United States," affirmed Díaz-Canel, who emphasized that dialogue must be based on mutual respect and aimed at the well-being of both peoples.
The Cuban leader also clarified that the island “is not in a state of war,” although defense plans have been updated and approved “as part of the preparation process,” without this implying a warlike situation.
He mentioned that his Government would be willing to discuss with Washington issues related to immigration, security, the fight against drug trafficking and terrorism, environmental matters, and scientific cooperation, among others.
Díaz-Canel's statement comes at a time of tension with the United States, following President Donald Trump's recent decisions to harden the policy towards the Cuban regime and condition any rapprochement on verifiable democratic progress in the island.
In his appearance, the ruler also assured that the regime is preparing a plan for "acute fuel shortages" in response to pressure from the U.S.
"We are going to live through difficult times. These, in particular, are very challenging," the president acknowledged before a selected group of journalists, whose questions seemed scripted.
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