Cuba says US talks are frozen as island faces ‘war without bombs’

Cuba's leaders claim that the United States' administration is not open to discussing commerce, diplomacy, or any other issue that could alleviate the suffering caused by US sanctions. As infant mortality and preventable deaths increase, Cuba's top diplomat in Washington, Lianys Torres Rivera, stated that dialogue is completely frozen between the two nations.

According to Rivera, there are no ongoing negotiations despite the Trump administration's pressure campaign, which includes a de facto fuel blockade and pressuring foreign companies operating on the island. The diplomat also rejected accusations that Cuba poses a national security risk or influences anti-American dissent in the US and abroad, emphasizing that Cuba desires a relationship of respect with the United States.

A US official described Cuba as a failed state mismanaged for years, with the main obstacle to better ties being Havana's ruling class that benefits from the island's resources. The State Department spokesperson stated that Cuba is unwilling to agree to any measures that would benefit its people, and the Trump administration will use all available tools to counter security threats and aid the country's recovery.

The administration has been steadily increasing sanctions on Cuba in hopes of achieving economic and political change, following the January capture of Venezuela's President Nicolás Maduro and the suspension of fuel supplies to the island. The diplomat highlighted the severe consequences of US fuel restrictions, including over 100,000 people waiting for surgeries, 34,000 women waiting for ultrasounds, and more than 3,000 dialysis patients missing sessions due to power outages.

Despite Cuba's willingness to make economic changes and unveiling a package of 176 free-market reforms, the US insists that its political leadership and system of government are non-negotiable.