President Donald Trump says the United States has started talking with Cuba. He mentioned this while flying to Florida, but he didn’t explain when the talks began or how serious they are. His comment comes at a time when the U.S. is putting a lot of pressure on Cuba by making it harder for the island to get oil.
Recently, the U.S. stopped oil shipments from Venezuela and pushed Mexico to limit how much fuel it sends to Cuba. Trump also signed an order that adds extra taxes on goods from countries that help supply Cuba with oil. The goal seems clear: the U.S. wants Cuba to feel pressured enough to start negotiating.
Trump told reporters, “It doesn’t have to turn into a humanitarian crisis. I think they’d come to us and want to make a deal.” He also suggested that such a deal could help make Cuba “free again,” but he didn’t explain what he wants from Cuba in return.
Mexico’s President, Claudia Sheinbaum, warned that the U.S. pressure could make life much harder for everyday people in Cuba. She said Mexico will look for ways to continue helping the island if needed.
The renewed attention on Cuba started after U.S. forces captured Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro earlier this year. Maduro was a strong ally of Cuba, and his capture has made the region even more tense. Since then, Trump has taken a tougher approach toward countries he sees as opponents, and Cuba is now one of them.
Cuban leaders have not confirmed that any talks are happening. They have said many times that they will only talk to the U.S. if the two countries treat each other with respect. For now, the U.S. seems to be using pressure first and diplomacy second.
It’s still unclear whether these quiet talks will lead to real progress or create more problems between the two countries. But Trump’s comments suggest that something may be happening behind the scenes, even if no one knows exactly what yet.
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