Cuba's President Says Nation's Sovereignty Off Limits in US Talks
Speaking to a Spanish media outlet in Havana, Diaz-Canel outlined the scope of potential engagement with Washington, identifying foreign investment, migration, drug trafficking, counterterrorism, environmental protection, and science and education as legitimate areas for dialogue.
"We can discuss everything, but our sovereignty must be respected. Our independence and political system are never open to discussion," he said.
The Cuban leader characterized the negotiation process as an extended, long-term undertaking, stressing that both government institutions and civil society organizations must have a seat at the table — consistent with precedents set in prior rounds of engagement.
Diaz-Canel struck a defiant yet diplomatic tone when addressing the prospect of military confrontation, drawing a clear distinction between Cuba's willingness to engage and its resolve to resist coercion.
"We do not want war; we want dialogue. But if we are subjected to military intervention, I am ready to give my life for the revolution," he said.
On the domestic front, Diaz-Canel said Cuba is actively working to expand homegrown energy production and accelerate the shift toward renewable sources, aiming to reduce the island's vulnerability to external supply disruptions.
US Restrictions on Oil to Cuba
The remarks come amid intensifying economic pressure from Washington. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 30 imposing tariffs on all goods from countries that sell or supply oil to Cuba. The White House framed the measure as necessary to safeguard US national security and foreign policy interests against what it described as Cuba's "harmful actions and policies."
On Feb. 1, Trump announced that preliminary talks had been initiated with the Cuban administration over oil supply arrangements — a claim Havana swiftly and flatly denied.
Facing mounting energy pressure, the Cuban government has since activated an emergency package designed to sustain operations without reliance on external oil supplies.
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