Trump Administration Pursues Shift in Cuba Amid Economic Pressure and Talks

WASHINGTON — Cuba’s top diplomat in Washington says Havana is prepared to enter diplomatic talks with the United States, reiterating the country’s willingness to engage even as President Trump asserts that the island nation’s government could soon collapse.

Cuba Signals Willingness to Talk

“We are ready to engage with the U.S. On the issues that are vital for the bilateral relation, and to talk about those in which we have differences,” Ambassador Lianys Torres Rivera, who leads Cuba’s mission in Washington, told The Times on Wednesday. Any dialogue, she emphasized, would need to respect Cuba’s sovereignty and its “right to self-determination.”

Economic Pressure and the Oil Blockade

Cuba is facing mounting economic pressure following the Trump administration’s imposition of an oil blockade, which has significantly impacted the island’s energy supplies. This has deepened a humanitarian crisis and prompted Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to call for an “urgent” overhaul to the country’s economic model. The situation worsened after U.S. Forces removed Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January, leading to a cutoff of oil shipments from Venezuela, a longtime ally of Cuba. The Trump administration likewise pressured other suppliers, including Mexico, to reduce deliveries.

“We are doing our best, and we are being very creative, but it has a serious impact,” Torres Rivera said of the blockade. “It is a collective punishment against the Cuban people.”

White House Sees Opportunity for Negotiation

The White House views Cuba’s worsening economic and humanitarian conditions as a potential opening to pressure Havana into negotiations. “The country is obviously in a very weak place, economically speaking, the people are crying out for help, and the president believes and knows the Cuban regime wants a deal,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a news briefing on Tuesday.

Secret Talks and Potential “Friendly Takeover”

Reports indicate the Trump administration has been engaged in secret, high-level conversations with individuals from former President Raul Castro’s inner circle, mirroring a similar approach taken before the capture of Venezuelan President Maduro (The operation to seize Maduro resulted in the deaths of 32 Cuban officers stationed in the country). President Trump has also raised the possibility of a “friendly takeover” of Cuba, though the specifics of such a move remain unclear. He stated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is leading the talks with Havana.

“They have no money, they have no anything… but they’re talking to us,” Trump said in February according to the AP.

Tariffs and Countering Cuban Influence

In January 2026, President Trump signed an Executive Order declaring a national emergency and establishing a process to impose tariffs on goods from countries that sell oil to Cuba, citing concerns about U.S. National security and foreign policy as outlined in a White House fact sheet. The administration alleges that Cuba hosts Russia’s largest overseas signals intelligence facility and provides safe haven for terrorist groups like Hezbollah and Hamas.

Looking Ahead

Torres Rivera reiterated Cuba’s readiness to engage in talks, regardless of who leads the negotiations, emphasizing the importance of mutual respect and sovereignty. President Trump has expressed optimism about reaching a deal with Cuba, stating, “Cuba’s at the finish of the line. They’re very much at the end of the line. They have no money. They have no oil. They have a bad philosophy. They have a bad regime that has been bad for a very long time.”