Havana– The Cuban government confirmed on Monday that it had recently met with US officials on the island as tensions remain between the two sides over the US energy blockade. caribbean country.
Senior US State Department officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said on friday US diplomats flew to the island in April for the first time since 2016 as part of a new diplomatic effort. Neither US nor Cuban officials have said when the meeting took place nor which US officials participated.
Alejandro García del Toro, deputy director general in charge of US affairs at Cuba’s Foreign Ministry, said on Monday that the US delegation included assistant secretaries of state, and the Cuban delegation included representatives at the deputy foreign minister level.
He said the exchange was conducted “respectfully and professionally”, adding that the US delegation had not issued any threats or deadlines as reported in some US media.
García del Toro said, “Eliminating the energy embargo against the country was a top priority for our delegation.” “This act of economic coercion is an unfair punishment for the entire Cuban population.”
He added: “This is a form of global blackmail against sovereign states, which have every right to export fuel to Cuba under the rules governing free trade.”
between lifting conditions US sanctions on CubaWashington is pressuring the Cuban government to end political repression, release political prisoners and liberalize its ailing economy.
At the end of January, American Donald Trump threatened tariffs On any country that sells or supplies oil to Cuba. Trump has also threatened the country and the Cuban President to intervene. miguel diaz-canel said last week that their country is ready to fight If it should happen.
