The Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla admitted this Monday during the presentation to national and foreign press of the latest Report on Cuba regarding the damages of the embargo, that the conversations between Havana and Washington continue without progress, and held the Government of the United States responsible for this stalemate.
When specifically addressing the conversations between both governments, the Foreign Minister confirmed that contacts with Washington are ongoing.
"There have been conversations with the State Department" and "communications are ongoing in this regard," he stated.
However, he acknowledged that "these conversations show no advances or progress due to the lack of willingness from the government of the United States."
The chancellor did not specify at that moment what exactly this supposed unwillingness of Washington entails, but he did outline the conditions under which the Cuban regime claims to be willing to maintain contact.
"Cuba reiterates that it will be willing to continue such conversations on the basis of international law, without preconditions, on a sovereign and equal footing, in absolute equality, based on mutual respect and reciprocal benefit for our peoples without interference in our internal affairs," he declared.
Rodríguez also made a clear distinction between the conversations he acknowledges exist and a formal negotiation between the two governments.
“There have not been, nor are there negotiations, nor do agreements or roadmaps exist,” he assured.
Conversations, but not negotiations
The words of the chancellor define the scope that, according to Havana's own account, the contacts with the United States currently have: there is communication with the Department of State, but no formal negotiations or concrete agreements between the parties.
Rodríguez did not mention during his speech a forthcoming meeting between representatives of the two governments, nor did he provide details about the specific issues that would be addressed in those communications.
The assertion that there are no "agreements or roadmaps" is particularly relevant considering the expectations that have arisen since both governments acknowledged the existence of contacts and confirms that, at least publicly, those exchanges have not translated into concrete commitments.
At the same time, Havana keeps open the possibility of continuing talks with Washington, although Rodríguez insisted that these exchanges must take place “without preconditions,” on “equal footing,” and “without interference” in Cuba's internal affairs.
More than two months later, the diagnosis remains the same
This is not the first time that Rodríguez has publicly acknowledged that contacts between Cuba and the United States are stalled.
At the end of June, during a press conference in Havana, the foreign minister had already stated that “the conversations between Cuba and the U.S. show no progress.”
On that occasion, he was more explicit in describing the context in which, according to Havana, the contacts were taking place.
"The behavior of the U.S. government delegations —generally respectful— has been accompanied by constant threats against Cuba, the implementation of coercive measures, and offensive statements regarding the independence of our country," he stated at the time.
Rodríguez also stated in June that "Cuba remains open to dialogue and the peaceful resolution of differences, based on mutual respect and non-interference in Cuba's internal affairs."
The new appearance shows that, more than two months after those statements, the chancellor's public assessment of the state of the contacts has not changed substantially: communications continue, but Havana still does not acknowledge any progress.
An open channel since March
The conversations between both governments officially began on March 13, 2026, when Havana confirmed the opening of an exploratory channel with the United States.
Cuba's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Josefina Vidal, then described the process as a "very preliminary" stage, a characterization that reflected the limited initial scope of the contacts.
Since then, the Cuban government has confirmed on various occasions that it maintains communication with Washington, while the administration of President Donald Trump has continued to increase pressure on the regime in Havana.
Rodríguez's most recent statement confirms that the channel has not been broken, but also that, nearly six months after its opening, the Cuban government itself is not discussing a proper negotiation.
The distinction made now by the chancellor is explicit: there are conversations and communications with the State Department, but "there have been, and there are no negotiations," nor are there "agreements or roadmaps."
Report on the embargo
Rodríguez addressed the relations with Washington during an extensive appearance in which the regime detailed the damages it attributes to the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed by the United States.
According to figures presented by Havana, the estimated damages between March 2025 and February 2026 amounted to 8.083.3 million dollars, a 7% increase compared to the previous period.
The Cuban government estimates that the accumulated damages amount to 178.7 billion dollars at current prices.
During the presentation, Rodríguez held Washington's measures responsible for the numerous difficulties facing the island, particularly in the energy sector, and denounced the restrictions on fuel supply and the U.S. pressures on international shipping companies.
It also linked those measures to the prolonged blackouts, water supply issues, transportation difficulties, and the shortcomings affecting the healthcare system.
Those accusations were part of the general argument presented by the chancellor against U.S. policy, but Rodríguez did not explicitly identify them when discussing the conversations, as the specific explanation for the "lack of willingness" he attributed to Washington.
Thus, almost six months after the opening of the exploratory channel, Cuba and the United States continue to communicate, but, as acknowledged by Cuba's chief diplomat, those discussions have yet to translate into negotiations, agreements, or a roadmap between the two governments.
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