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Cuba's Diaz-Canel Says US Dialogue 'Stagnant,' Denies Collapse
(MENAFN) Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said dialogue with the United States has stalled entirely, with no set agenda for negotiations, while pushing back against claims that Cuba is teetering on the edge of economic collapse, media reported.
"There is a desire for dialogue, and there are officials from our government who have spoken with the US government. But it has not yet been possible to advance. There is no agenda," Diaz-Canel said.
He insisted Cuba remains open to establishing a dialogue channel with Washington but ruled out negotiating under pressure. "There can be no dialogue under oppression. We need to seek a channel for dialogue without preconditions," he said.
Diaz-Canel accused President Donald Trump's administration of trying to economically strangle Cuba in hopes of triggering a social uprising that would topple the Cuban Revolution. He further charged that Washington is working to "cut off all forms of escape" available to the island, pointing to remarks made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Despite chronic shortages of fuel, electricity, food and medicine, Diaz-Canel dismissed suggestions that the country is on the brink of collapse. "We find ourselves in a complex situation but one marked by enormous creativity and the historic resilience of the Cuban people," he said.
He conceded that government bureaucracy and delayed reforms have compounded the country's troubles but placed the primary blame for the economic crisis on the US "blockade."
Since Diaz-Canel took office, Cuba's economy has shrunk by 15%, according to figures cited by Folha de S.Paulo, with the country also grappling with extended power outages and fuel shortages as the crisis deepens.
Diaz-Canel defended a sweeping package of 176 economic measures passed by Cuba's parliament in June, framing the reforms as a way to reinforce — not abandon — the country's socialist economic model. While the measures expand room for private businesses and foreign investment, he flatly rejected characterizations of them as a pivot toward capitalism.
The interview comes at a moment of escalating friction between Havana and Washington, as the Trump administration ramps up economic pressure on the island. Diaz-Canel said Cuba would continue defending its sovereignty while staying open to dialogue with Washington — without preconditions.
"There is a desire for dialogue, and there are officials from our government who have spoken with the US government. But it has not yet been possible to advance. There is no agenda," Diaz-Canel said.
He insisted Cuba remains open to establishing a dialogue channel with Washington but ruled out negotiating under pressure. "There can be no dialogue under oppression. We need to seek a channel for dialogue without preconditions," he said.
Diaz-Canel accused President Donald Trump's administration of trying to economically strangle Cuba in hopes of triggering a social uprising that would topple the Cuban Revolution. He further charged that Washington is working to "cut off all forms of escape" available to the island, pointing to remarks made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Despite chronic shortages of fuel, electricity, food and medicine, Diaz-Canel dismissed suggestions that the country is on the brink of collapse. "We find ourselves in a complex situation but one marked by enormous creativity and the historic resilience of the Cuban people," he said.
He conceded that government bureaucracy and delayed reforms have compounded the country's troubles but placed the primary blame for the economic crisis on the US "blockade."
Since Diaz-Canel took office, Cuba's economy has shrunk by 15%, according to figures cited by Folha de S.Paulo, with the country also grappling with extended power outages and fuel shortages as the crisis deepens.
Diaz-Canel defended a sweeping package of 176 economic measures passed by Cuba's parliament in June, framing the reforms as a way to reinforce — not abandon — the country's socialist economic model. While the measures expand room for private businesses and foreign investment, he flatly rejected characterizations of them as a pivot toward capitalism.
The interview comes at a moment of escalating friction between Havana and Washington, as the Trump administration ramps up economic pressure on the island. Diaz-Canel said Cuba would continue defending its sovereignty while staying open to dialogue with Washington — without preconditions.
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