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Officials from the United States Department of State traveled to Havana last Friday to meet with representatives of the Cuban regime and present a series of demands in exchange for economic and diplomatic relief, as reported by the media outlet Axios.
The delegation met with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson of Raúl Castro, known as "El Cangrejo," whom Washington apparently considers the de facto spokesperson for his grandfather, who remains the real power in Cuba despite Miguel Díaz-Canel holding the official presidency.
Among the specific proposals, the U.S. offered to restore internet access on the island by installing Starlink satellite services, a measure that would represent a radical change in Cuban telecommunications policy, where ETECSA maintains its monopoly until 2036 and the regime has labeled the use of that technology as digital aggression.
American demands include compensation for residents and corporations whose properties were confiscated after the 1959 Revolution, the release of political prisoners, and the assurance of greater political freedoms that would eventually lead to free and fair elections.
The U.S. also reiterated its willingness to help lift the embargo if Cuba meets those conditions. A senior State Department official warned that "the Cuban economy is in free fall and the ruling elites of the island have a small window to make key reforms supported by the U.S. before circumstances worsen irreversibly."
The delegation also expressed concerns about "foreign intelligence, military, and terrorist groups operating with the permission of the Cuban government less than 100 miles from U.S. territory," according to the same official.
Without directly threatening the regime, Washington made its position clear: "President Trump is committed to seeking a diplomatic solution, if possible, but he will not allow the island to collapse into a greater threat to national security if the leaders of Cuba are unwilling or unable to act."
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