The Cuban state television claimed that the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, allegedly manipulated President Donald Trump with a supposed “tale” about negotiations between Washington and Havana.
During a broadcast, the broadcaster Rey Gómez stated that the Cuban vice chancellor Carlos Fernández de Cossío has consistently denied that there are negotiations to prevent direct action by the United States against Cuba.
According to the diplomat, the Cuban government would be willing to engage in discussions "on equal terms and without preconditions," but denied any dialogue under the terms that—according to the official stance—are being discussed on social media and in U.S. statements.
In the television segment, it was stated that Trump has publicly claimed that negotiations are taking place with Cuban authorities. However, the host characterized those reports as a result of alleged manipulation by Rubio and other officials.
"Everything seems to indicate that the Secretary of State has made President Trump believe the story about the negotiations," said Gómez, who added that it would be "a shameless manipulation" and the creation of a "dangerous pretext."
The broadcaster also mentioned Senator Mario Díaz-Balart and the U.S. ambassador in Havana, Mike Hammer, as part of what he termed "spokespeople for the Rubio plan for regime change in Cuba."
In a commentary broadcast by state television, it was also claimed that Rubio had "made Trump dance to his tune" and that he "took him for his own purposes," suggesting that the Secretary of State would be using the Cuban issue to advance his own political agenda.
The statements are part of the official narrative of the regime, which denies the existence of formal negotiations with Washington while accusing certain sectors of the U.S. government of promoting an escalation against the island.
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