Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed that the regime maintains an open channel of communication with Washington, but warned that any negotiations must be "between equals, without pressure, and with respect for our sovereignty."
His statements were made in an interview granted to journalist Roberto Cavada from the Corripio Communications Group of the Dominican Republic, conducted on June 19 at the Palace of the Revolution and broadcasted on Wednesday by Telesistema.
“The processes of dialogue are very serious; they require great sensitivity because they involve the bilateral relationship between two nations and two peoples, which must be approached with a significant sense of responsibility. They must be conducted with ethics, and one cannot allow oneself to be provoked by the media manipulations that are constantly emerging. That is one of the elements that complicates the progress of dialogue,” the president stated.
"They must be convinced that in Cuba there is an ideological unity, there is a revolutionary unity, there is a unity of thought, and there is a unity of action. The Revolution has always demonstrated the capacity to transform, to move forward, but always with a well-defined objective, which is to perfect the process of socialist construction, to advance towards socialism, and to achieve the prosperity that this country desires."
In that workspace for prosperity, the communist leader sees an opportunity for participation from the United States.
"There is a space there, there is a space for U.S. entities, U.S. businesses to invest. There is every possibility to work on common issues regarding cooperation, which we have put on the table, and this has not been the only time that this has been proposed," he assured.
However, he was emphatic in setting his terms: "One cannot talk or negotiate under pressure, much less condition dialogue on a change to our political system."
The statements come at a time of high bilateral tension
On Wednesday, the Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau described Cuba as a "failed state" during the 56th General Assembly of the OAS in Panama City and demanded immediate economic and political reforms from the regime, while the OAS unanimously approved a declaration urging the restoration of democracy in Cuba.
Days earlier, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced new sanctions against five Cuban entities linked to GAESA, including the Banco Financiero Internacional and Almacenes Universales.
Díaz-Canel outright rejected that the package of 176 economic measures approved by the National Assembly on June 18 is a concession to U.S. pressure.
"Trump does not rule in Cuba, nor does the U.S. government rule in Cuba. Cuba is sovereign," he said.
However, the Cuban leader acknowledged that the "situation is under maximum pressure," and this has accelerated decision-making in an internal debate process that has been ongoing for 10 to 15 years.
The leader also expressed skepticism regarding the statements made by Vice President JD Vance, who on June 18 declared that if Cuba made "smart decisions," there would be "a much better relationship."
Díaz-Canel's response was straightforward: "I believe they will never understand what we do nor will they ever accept what we do, because they aspire to a Cuba that is completely dependent on the United States and entirely privatized."
Regarding the offer of 100 million dollars in humanitarian aid announced by Washington, the leader described it as a "joke" and pointed out its contradictions.
Cuba accepted the proposal in writing, but the aid does not include medications or food and will not begin distribution until after September. "The blockade causes Cuba annual damages of more than 5,000 million. They're coming with 100 million," he remarked sarcastically.
Regarding the energy crisis affecting the island, Díaz-Canel acknowledged the severity of the blackouts and attributed them to the energy blockade that has nearly cut off all fuel supplies.
It was noted that in 2025, Cuba installed over 1,000 MW in photovoltaic parks, which increased the share of renewable energies from 3% to 10% of the electricity matrix, and it was warned that without that investment "the situation would be much more severe."
The only fuel ship that arrived in Cuba in recent months was a Russian one, which provided only 15 days of relative stability. The private sector, authorized to import fuel, managed to bring in just 40,000 tons, which is equivalent to a single ship that the island needs each month.
Díaz-Canel also warned that "the danger of a military aggression from the United States towards Cuba is ever-present," although he clarified that the country's defensive preparations are aimed at deterring rather than attacking.
He concluded with a statement that encapsulates the regime's stance towards Washington: “What our peoples deserve is dialogue, not confrontation”.
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