The Cuban regime assured that it maintains channels of communication with the United States, but that these contacts do not constitute formal negotiations, at a time when the Donald Trump administration is intensifying pressure on Havana.
The statement was made by Lianys Torres Rivera, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Cuba in Washington, during an interview granted this Monday to Reuters.
What we have with the United States are channels of communication, Torres Rivera stated, according to the report.
The diplomat explained that the recent contacts between both governments have included meetings, phone calls, and WhatsApp messages, but she assured that until now, there has been no progress towards a negotiating agenda or the resumption of official talks.
Torres did not provide details about the dates of those exchanges, the matters discussed, or the individuals who participated.
However, the official's description contrasts with the statements made by Trump at the United Nations last month, when he asserted that Secretary of State, Marco Rubio was "deeply involved in negotiations" with Havana.
The president also described Cuba as a "failed state" and predicted the fall of its government, as Reuters reported.
When asked by the agency about diplomatic contacts, a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity did not provide details but asserted that Washington is ready to "open a new chapter" in its relationship with Cuba.
"The only thing standing in the way of a better future are those who control Cuba for their own benefit at the expense of the Cuban people," the official declared to Reuters.
Torres insisted that the regime remains willing to maintain a " respectful" dialogue with the United States, although he reiterated one of the main conditions defended by Havana: the Cuban political system will not be subject to negotiation.
According to the diplomat, this remains a "red line" for the Cuban government, which views the U.S. demands for political changes as a violation of its sovereignty.
He also stated that Havana is not "naive" regarding Trump's statements and assured that Cuba has increased its preparations for a possible U.S. military action.
"Cuba has always been preparing for an aggression from the United States," he stated. "And we are enhancing our capabilities now more than ever [...] It is to defend ourselves."
The statements by Torres Rivera do not represent the first acknowledgment by the regime of the existence of those contacts.
In recent weeks, several high-ranking Cuban officials have confirmed that communication with Washington is ongoing, although they have emphasized that it is not a formal negotiation.
On September 25, Bruno Rodríguez acknowledged that there had been "some episodes of conversation" with U.S. officials and expressed the regime's willingness to continue them, although he stated that, up to that point, they had not produced any results.
Weeks earlier, the chancellor had confirmed that “there have been discussions with the State Department” and that “communications are ongoing”, although he stated that no progress had been recorded.
The same distinction between communication and negotiation had already been used in July by Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío. In an interview with Al Jazeera, he confirmed that the regime had accepted a communication channel proposed by the United States.
«A few months ago, we had what we call a communication channel. We don't use the term negotiations because we weren't negotiating anything specific,» Fernández de Cossío stated.
In May, Torres herself stated that Havana was willing to discuss bilateral matters with Washington, although she excluded any discussion of the political system and internal order in Cuba.
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