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The Cuban regime confirmed on Monday that it recently held a meeting with a delegation from the United States in Havana, amid rising tensions and diplomatic pressures regarding the situation of political prisoners on the island.
The confirmation was made by Alejandro García del Toro, Deputy General Director for the United States at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX), in statements to the official newspaper Granma, where he acknowledged that the meeting took place with high-level representatives from both governments.
According to the official, the meeting included deputy secretaries from the State Department on the U.S. side, while Cuba was represented by a vice minister of Foreign Affairs.
García del Toro assured that the exchange took place in a "respectful and professional" manner and denied that Washington imposed any conditions or deadlines, in apparent contradiction to reports published by U.S. media such as , which revealed the existence of a two-week ultimatum for the release of high-profile political prisoners.
According to this information, the administration of President Donald Trump allegedly demanded the release of opponents such as Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel Osorbo as a sign of good faith, under warning of potential consequences if these demands were not met.
However, the Cuban regime avoided making direct reference to these allegations and focused its narrative on economic issues. García del Toro stated that one of the priority topics for Havana was the elimination of the so-called "energy blockade", which he described as an "unjustified punishment" against the population and a supposed obstacle to international trade.
The official statements thus confirm the direct contact between both governments at a particularly delicate moment marked by the deterioration of the Cuban economy, the increase in social discontent, and international pressure regarding the human rights situation on the island.
While the regime attempts to project an image of normalcy in the dialogue, reports from the United States indicate a much tenser scenario, where the release of political prisoners has become a central point of negotiation and a crucial test for the future of bilateral relations.
The acknowledgment of this secret meeting adds a new element to the current dynamics between Washington and Havana, just as the deadline indicated by American sources approaches and anticipation grows regarding the response from the Cuban regime.
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