Cuba admits dialogue with the US while the light goes out
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed this Friday what many speculated: his government held recent talks with the United States. It’s no small thing. It is the first time that Havana openly recognizes it.
“These conversations have been aimed at seeking solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences that we have between the two nations,” said Díaz-Canel.
But here’s the crucial detail: The announcement comes as Cuba is going through one of its worst energy crises in years. The timing is not a coincidence.
The other side of the coin: darkness and firewood
While talking about diplomacy, Díaz-Canel revealed alarming data. In the last three months, not a single shipment of oil has arrived on the island, something he attributes directly to US restrictions.
Last week, a massive blackout left millions without electricity in the west of the country. The impact is brutal:
- Surgeries postponed for tens of thousands of people
- Communications, education and transportation paralyzed
- More than 115 bakeries converted to use firewood or charcoal
“It has not been enough to cover the demand,” he admitted about the efforts to generate its own energy, despite the fact that Cuba produces 40% of its oil.
Real dialogue or maneuver out of necessity?
The president’s words are careful but revealing. He talks about “identifying bilateral problems” and finding solutions “for the benefit of the people.” It even mentions “areas of cooperation.”
But any journalist who has covered these relations knows: when Cuba talks publicly about dialogue with Washington, it is usually because it urgently needs something. And now it desperately needs energy.
Meanwhile, they are trying to patch things up: 955 solar panels installed in rural areas and promises to add 100 more megawatts before the end of March. They are necessary measures, but insufficient in the face of the collapse of the system.
The question that remains is simple: will this dialogue advance beyond the exchange of words? History suggests extreme caution. But as hospitals postpone surgeries and bakeries return to coal, even skeptics must wonder if this time will be different.
