The Cuban government has been in talks with the Trump administration, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Friday. These conversations come as Trump continues to put economic pressure on the communist country.
“The purpose of these conversations is to identify what are the bilateral problems that need a solution, depending on the gravity of the issue,” Diaz-Canel told the press on Friday. “To make concrete actions that benefit both countries and, aside from that, to identify areas of cooperation, to address threats, and to guarantee the safety and peace of both countries.”
Diaz-Canel clarified that the United States and Cuba were “still far from an agreement.”
“These are processes that are carried out with great discretion,” he said. “They are long processes, and there has to be willingness and channels for dialogue, and all of that takes time.”
Sens. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced a War Powers Resolution on Friday in an attempt to prevent the president from escalating hostilities with Cuba without congressional approval.
“Only Congress has the power to declare war under the Constitution, but he operates with the belief that the U.S. military is a palace guard, ordering military action in the Caribbean, Venezuela, and Iran without Congress’ authorization or any explanation for his actions to the American people,” Kaine said.
“They’re in a big deal of trouble, as you know,” Trump said in February. “They have no money, they have no anything right now. But they’re talking with us, and maybe we’ll have a friendly takeover of Cuba.”
The Trump administration increased its pressure against Cuba in February after accusing the Cuban government of supporting transnational terrorist groups and countries opposed to U.S. interests, such as Russia and Iran.
Trump imposed a U.S. blockade and sweeping tariffs against foreign governments supplying Cuba with oil.
“For three months, no fuel ships have arrived,” Diaz-Canel said on Friday. “We are working under very adverse conditions that are having an impact on the lives of all our people.”
Cuba-U.S. relations were the topic of the recent Republican retreat in Doral, Florida.
“If I had to bet, I would say this regime’s days are numbered, and I’m not talking years, I’m talking days,” Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) told the Miami Herald shortly before the summit.
“Cuba’s next. They’re going to follow this communist dictatorship in Cuba. Their days are numbered,” Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC) said during an appearance on Fox News.
The Trump administration turned its attention to Cuba following the successful capture of former Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro earlier this year.
Cuba was a close ally of Venezuela, providing each other with intelligence and supplies. The country became heavily reliant on Venezuelan oil after the collapse of the Soviet Union.