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Rubio, Top US Diplomat in Havana Discuss Cuba Amid Venezuela Fallout
(MENAFN) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sat down Friday with Mike Hammer, who leads the American diplomatic mission in Havana, to discuss the unfolding situation in Cuba, according to local media reports.
The meeting was held at the White House and confirmed by the US Embassy in Cuba through a brief statement noting that the two officials discussed the island's current situation and reaffirmed their "firm support for the Cuban people," according to a news website.
During the discussion, Hammer updated Rubio on efforts to deliver $100 million in humanitarian assistance through Caritas and other trusted organizations, according to a statement from the US diplomatic mission cited by the outlet.
The meeting unfolded against a backdrop of escalating political and diplomatic friction between Washington and Havana, compounded by recent developments in Venezuela that carry potential economic and security consequences for Cuba.
Tensions have been further inflamed by the US operation in Venezuela, which Havana says killed 32 Cuban citizens who were carrying out protection and advisory roles for the Venezuelan government. Cuban officials labeled the US action an act of aggression and a breach of international law, the website reported.
The outlet suggested the Rubio-Hammer talks may also have touched on how the shifting situation in Venezuela could ripple into Cuba's economy and energy sector, given the island's long-standing reliance on Venezuelan oil.
It also noted that the involvement of Cuban personnel within Venezuela's security apparatus could emerge as another flashpoint in US-Cuban relations.
Cuba, meanwhile, continues to grapple with a deep economic crisis and rising social unrest, even as Washington ramps up political and economic pressure on the Havana government.
The embassy's emphasis on backing the "Cuban people" reflects a broader US strategy of drawing a distinction between the Cuban population and its government, according to website.
No new US policy shifts toward Cuba were announced following the meeting. Still, the talks underscore how central Cuba has become to the Trump administration's calculations as Washington recalibrates its approach to the island in the wake of the Venezuela developments.
The meeting was held at the White House and confirmed by the US Embassy in Cuba through a brief statement noting that the two officials discussed the island's current situation and reaffirmed their "firm support for the Cuban people," according to a news website.
During the discussion, Hammer updated Rubio on efforts to deliver $100 million in humanitarian assistance through Caritas and other trusted organizations, according to a statement from the US diplomatic mission cited by the outlet.
The meeting unfolded against a backdrop of escalating political and diplomatic friction between Washington and Havana, compounded by recent developments in Venezuela that carry potential economic and security consequences for Cuba.
Tensions have been further inflamed by the US operation in Venezuela, which Havana says killed 32 Cuban citizens who were carrying out protection and advisory roles for the Venezuelan government. Cuban officials labeled the US action an act of aggression and a breach of international law, the website reported.
The outlet suggested the Rubio-Hammer talks may also have touched on how the shifting situation in Venezuela could ripple into Cuba's economy and energy sector, given the island's long-standing reliance on Venezuelan oil.
It also noted that the involvement of Cuban personnel within Venezuela's security apparatus could emerge as another flashpoint in US-Cuban relations.
Cuba, meanwhile, continues to grapple with a deep economic crisis and rising social unrest, even as Washington ramps up political and economic pressure on the Havana government.
The embassy's emphasis on backing the "Cuban people" reflects a broader US strategy of drawing a distinction between the Cuban population and its government, according to website.
No new US policy shifts toward Cuba were announced following the meeting. Still, the talks underscore how central Cuba has become to the Trump administration's calculations as Washington recalibrates its approach to the island in the wake of the Venezuela developments.
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