The Cuban ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel led a meeting on Thursday with the top leadership of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and the Government at the headquarters of the Central Committee in Havana.
Members of the Political Bureau, the Secretariat of the Central Committee, and the Executive Committee of the Council of Ministers participated. Among other topics, they discussed relations with the United States, national defense matters, and the energy crisis in Cuba.
The Cuban state television showed images of the meeting on the Revista Buenos Días this Friday. The statements were released on social media at 6:30 am, just a few minutes before the scheduled press conference with the president.
Among the participants was notably Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, grandson of Raúl Castro and regarded as one of his most trusted allies within the power circles of the regime.
It has been said that he is responsible for the conversations with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This Friday, Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed that talks with the United States are indeed underway.
Rodríguez Castro, head of the personal security team for General Raúl Castro and popularly known as "El Cangrejo," was also seen sitting among high-ranking officials of the State and the Party during the meeting broadcasted by the Revista Buenos Días, at the meeting of Díaz-Canel with the official Cuban press.
Among the attendees were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla; the Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz; and the Minister of Foreign Trade and Foreign Investment (MINCEX), Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga.
Key figures from the political apparatus of the regime were also present, including the commander of the revolution José Ramón Machado Ventura, the Secretary of Organization of the PCC Roberto Morales Ojeda, and other leaders from the Party and the Government.
The images broadcasted by state television also revealed the presence of high-ranking officials from the Revolutionary Armed Forces (FAR) and the Ministry of Interior (MININT), which reflects the influence of military and security institutions in the discussions.
Additionally, spokespeople and representatives from the state media participated, covering the meeting and disseminating excerpts from the remarks of the regime's leaders.
Díaz-Canel stated that he will participate this Friday in the activities scheduled for Defense Day, a day organized by the regime to carry out military exercises and preparation activities in anticipation of conflict scenarios.
The ruler insisted that they were very sensitive discussions with representatives of the United States government aimed at “seeking solutions through dialogue for the bilateral differences.”
He stated that the contacts have been made at the highest level and have been led by Raúl Castro and himself, in coordination with the top structure of the Party, the State, and the government.
The announcement represents a complete turnaround from the official position the regime had maintained in recent weeks.
The call for this meeting of the power elite comes at a time of political and diplomatic tension with the United States, as the regime seeks to project cohesion among the Party, the Government, and the military structures that support the political system on the island.
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