Cuban President Diaz-Canel says talks held with US amid Trump threats

Miguel Diaz-Canel says discussions held to find solutions ‘through dialogue’ as Washington tightens oil blockade.Published On 13 Mar 2026Cuban ⁠officials have ⁠held talks with the United States government to seek solutions to the crippling ⁠blockade imposed by Washington, President Miguel Diaz-Canel said, as the Trump administration’s threats to take over the Caribbean nation escalate.“These talks have been aimed at finding solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences ‌we have between the two nations,” Diaz-Canel said in a video aired on national television on Friday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Cuba hit by massive power outage amid US oil pressurelist 2 of 3Cuba’s economy on edge: Fuel shortages and rising hardshiplist 3 of 3Cuba closes Quito embassy after Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa expels its diplomatsend of listDiaz-Canel said “international factors have facilitated these exchanges”.He said no petroleum shipments have arrived on the island in the past three months, which he blamed on the US energy blockade.Critical oil shipments from Venezuela were halted after the US attacked the South American country and abducted President Nicolas Maduro.Cuba’s western region was hit by a massive blackout last week, leaving millions without power.The talks come days after President Donald Trump levelled his latest threat at Cuba, saying the White House’s plans for the Caribbean nation may include a “friendly takeover”.‘Impact tremendous’He said the lack of power has affected communications, education and transportation, and that the government has had to postpone surgeries for tens of thousands of people as a result.“The impact is tremendous,” he said.The president added that the aim was “to determine the willingness of both parties to take concrete actions for the benefit of the people of both countries”.