Madrid/Vice Chancellor Carlos Fernández de Cossío strategically positioned himself in front of the photographs of Raúl Castro, Fidel Castro and Ernesto Che Guevara to send a message to the United States during an interview given this Monday to the Associated Press (AP). The idea was simple: to convince that dialogue is possible, if it does not mean giving up the basics.
“If you ask me if we have a dialogue table today, we don’t have one,” the diplomat told AP. However, he assured that there is a willingness “to maintain this informal dialogue with the United States” to discuss “the differences.” However, he pointed out, “certain things are off the table for Cuba, including the Constitution, the economy and the country’s system of government, which is socialist.”
The vice chancellor stressed – once again – that contacts have been maintained over the years to address border issues, both with regard to emigration and drug trafficking. However, he contradicted the US president, who in the last two days has insisted that talks are already underway with members of the Cuban government.
“Cuba is a peaceful country,” said Fernández de Cossío. “We only want to relate to the United States as we relate to the rest of the world. The United States is the exception today,” he reproached.
“We only want to relate to the United States as we relate to the rest of the world. The United States is the exception today”
The agency specifically asked the diplomat how long the authorities estimate that Cuba could “endure the current conditions,” but Fernández de Cossío avoided answering and opened the door to speculation by saying that he could not reveal “any way” to guarantee the supply of oil.
“Cuba, of course, is preparing with creativity, with stoicism and with austerity,” he noted. He then left an enigmatic phrase that can also be interpreted as a bluff: “What can Cuba do? Watch us.”
Fernández de Cossío’s statements came this Monday, just one day after Trump said that his pressure will force Cuba to negotiate. “I think they will probably come to us and want to make a deal. So Cuba will be free again,” said the president, who rejects the idea of a humanitarian crisis and is convinced that there will be an agreement.
Last January, Trump had already stated on two occasions that he was in talks with the Cuban regime, something that was denied by the island’s authorities. Whether or not it was true, last Thursday the US president signed an executive order that imposes tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba.
Among them is Mexico, whose president, Claudia Sheinbaum, has stated that the delivery of crude oil to Cuba is an issue that has never been addressed with the United States. “We never spoke with President Trump about the issue of oil with Cuba,” she said, although she did admit that her foreign minister, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, discussed it with the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
The president announced this Sunday the imminent shipment of humanitarian aid – made up of food and other basic products – to Cuba, while she evaluates how to resume the delivery of fuel. “It is help that the Secretary of the Navy will provide, with food and other products, in which we diplomatically resolve everything that has to do with the shipment of oil for humanitarian reasons,” he revealed.
Sheinbaum added this Monday that he is coordinating with the Cuban Embassy to define what is most needed. “We will report in full detail in due course,” he added.
Sheinbaum added this Monday that he is coordinating with the Cuban Embassy to define what is most needed. “We will report in full detail in due course,” he added.
Trump closed that door, at least for now, this Monday. Although he did not refer to Fernández de Cossío’s statements to the AP, nor to the statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in which Cuba said it reaffirmed “its commitment to cooperate with the United States and other nations to strengthen regional and international security,” he insisted this Monday that talks are already underway.
“Many (Cubans) would like to at least visit their relatives, and I think we are close to achieving that. The fact is that we are negotiating with the Cuban leaders at this moment,” he told the media in the Oval Office.
The president stressed that Cuba is “a failed nation, they do not receive money from Venezuela or anywhere else. It is a bankrupt nation” and added that “Mexico will stop sending them oil.”
In addition, he made statements that have put some migrants in suspense pending their regularization and who fear that a possible dialogue with Havana would imply their expulsion. “I would like to help the Cubans who are here. As you know, we have many people who came from Cuba, who were expelled from Cuba, who fled Cuba. They arrived on rafts. They crossed shark-infested waters. I don’t know how they did it. And that was many years ago. Many would like to return,” he said.
