By Anietie anii-bassey
President Miguel Díaz-Canel revealed Friday that officials from Cuba and the United States recently held discussions aimed at addressing longstanding tensions between the two countries, marking the first public confirmation by Havana that such contacts had taken place amid speculation of renewed diplomatic engagement.
Speaking during a nationally broadcast address, Díaz-Canel said the conversations were designed to explore ways to resolve bilateral disputes through dialogue while also examining areas where cooperation might be possible. He described the exchanges as constructive but offered few details about when the meetings occurred, who participated, or where they were held.
According to the Cuban leader, a combination of international circumstances helped facilitate the discussions, though he declined to elaborate further on what those factors were. Relations between Havana and Washington have been strained for decades, shaped largely by sanctions and political disagreements that have periodically escalated and eased depending on leadership and geopolitical developments.
Díaz-Canel’s remarks came as Cuba grapples with one of its most severe energy crises in years. The president disclosed that the island has not received any petroleum shipments for three months, a situation he attributed to what he described as an American-imposed energy blockade.
The shortage of fuel has placed enormous strain on the country’s aging electrical infrastructure. Just last week, a massive blackout struck western Cuba, leaving millions of residents without electricity and highlighting the fragility of the island’s power grid.
Cuba produces roughly 40 percent of the petroleum it uses domestically, Díaz-Canel said, and authorities have been attempting to generate electricity using locally available supplies. Even so, the output has fallen far short of the energy required to keep homes, businesses and essential services running normally.
The president acknowledged that the electricity shortages have had far-reaching consequences for daily life across the country. Communications networks have faced disruptions, schools and universities have struggled to maintain consistent schedules, and transportation systems have been forced to scale back operations because of limited fuel.
Hospitals and medical centers have also been affected. Díaz-Canel said the government has had to postpone surgeries for tens of thousands of patients as power outages and resource shortages complicate the operation of medical facilities.
“The impact is tremendous,” the president said, describing the cascading effects of the energy crisis on nearly every sector of Cuban society.
The shortage has forced authorities to improvise in unexpected ways. Díaz-Canel revealed that more than 115 bakeries across the island have been converted to operate using firewood or coal instead of electricity in order to continue producing bread for local communities.
At the same time, the government has accelerated efforts to expand renewable energy sources in an attempt to reduce dependence on imported fuel.
Nearly 1,000 solar panels have already been installed in rural homes and community centers, according to Díaz-Canel, and additional solar systems are expected to come online before the end of March. Officials estimate that the new installations could add around 100 megawatts to the country’s strained electrical grid.
Despite those efforts, the president acknowledged that renewable energy alone cannot fill the immediate gap.
“Even with everything we’re putting together, we still need oil,” Díaz-Canel said, stressing that the country’s economic recovery depends heavily on reliable energy supplies.
Industrial production has also suffered as a result of the shortages. Factories and agricultural operations have reduced output or suspended operations during periods of power rationing. Díaz-Canel warned that without adequate energy supplies, no country can maintain normal levels of economic activity.
“All of this has meant making adjustments to employment,” he said, referring to workforce disruptions caused by reduced industrial production.
In response to the worsening situation, the Cuban government implemented strict fuel-saving measures last month. Those steps include limiting certain transportation services, reducing energy consumption in state institutions and encouraging households to conserve electricity.
Díaz-Canel said the recent talks with the United States were intended to identify the most urgent bilateral issues and explore whether both governments are prepared to take practical steps that could benefit citizens in both countries.
He explained that the discussions also aimed to examine possible areas of cooperation, particularly in addressing shared threats and ensuring regional stability and security in the Caribbean.
According to the Cuban leader, any future dialogue would need to be conducted on the basis of equality and mutual respect, including recognition of Cuba’s political system and its sovereignty.
Energy shortages have been exacerbated by disruptions in foreign oil supplies. Critical shipments from Nicolás Maduro’s government in Venezuela — historically one of Cuba’s main energy partners — were halted following a U.S. military strike against the South American country and the subsequent arrest of Maduro, developments that sharply reduced Havana’s access to imported fuel.
Compounding the problem are the technical limitations of Cuba’s aging power plants. Díaz-Canel noted that some of the island’s thermoelectric facilities have been operating for more than 30 years. With limited maintenance and scarce replacement parts, breakdowns have become increasingly common.
The most recent nationwide blackout was triggered by a malfunctioning boiler at a thermoelectric plant, forcing authorities to shut down the electrical grid to prevent further damage. Officials have said acquiring new equipment and specialized parts has been difficult because of sanctions and high costs.
After concluding his address, Díaz-Canel took questions from a select group of state journalists. Most focused on the country’s worsening economic and energy challenges, though one reporter raised questions about a recent deadly confrontation at sea involving a boat carrying Cuban nationals from the United States.
The incident occurred in Cuban territorial waters when a Florida-flagged vessel approached the island. Cuban authorities said the occupants opened fire on government forces, prompting troops to return fire. Four of the ten people aboard were killed during the exchange, and another suspect later died from injuries sustained in the shooting.
The government has detained the remaining five individuals, who now face terrorism-related charges. Díaz-Canel said investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation are expected to travel to Cuba soon as part of ongoing cooperation between the two countries in examining the case.
The president’s remarks also came shortly after Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that 51 prisoners would be released in what officials described as a gesture of goodwill tied to close relations with the Vatican.
Díaz-Canel emphasized that the decision was made independently by the Cuban government and was consistent with the country’s humanitarian principles.
“It is a sovereign practice,” he said. “No one imposes it on us. It responds to our humanistic vocation.”
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