Cuba Open to US Dialogue, Refuses Constitutional Discussions
Addressing rising strains between the two countries, Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said recent steps taken by US President Donald Trump—including the imposition of new tariffs tied to Cuba—have increased pressure on Havana. He argued that such measures have caused harm and that constructive dialogue would be a more effective approach than continued coercion, as stated by reports.
Fernandez de Cossio noted that there are areas where cooperation remains possible, pointing in particular to efforts to combat drug trafficking. He said Cuba has worked with the United States on this issue in the past and remains willing to do so going forward.
However, he firmly rejected any discussion related to Cuba’s internal political system, saying: “We’re not ready to discuss our constitutional system. We assume the United States is not ready to discuss their constitutional system, their political system or their economic reality,” he said.
His remarks came after recent statements by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who publicly indicated that Washington favors political change in Cuba. In comments made in late January, Rubio said the US wants regime change in Cuba, adding: “That doesn't mean that we're going to make a change, but we would love to see a change.”
Tensions escalated further after President Trump signed an executive order on Jan. 30 imposing tariffs on goods from countries that supply oil to Cuba. Officials in Washington said the move was designed to safeguard US national security and foreign policy interests in response to what they described as Cuba’s “harmful actions and policies.”
On Feb. 1, Trump stated that discussions with Havana had already begun, saying: “I think they’re going to come to us and want to make a deal. Then Cuba will be free again.”
Fernandez de Cossio, however, dismissed that claim, saying there is no active negotiation process underway with Washington, even though Cuba remains open to dialogue under its own conditions.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
