Cuban Leader Diaz-Canel: Dialogue with the U.S. Stalled

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said that no progress has yet been made in the talks conducted with the U.S. administration, and that the dialogue between the two countries has reached a stalemate for now. Diaz-Canel made these remarks in an interview with the Brazil‑based Folha de S.Paulo newspaper.

Cuba is Going Through a Tough Period

Diaz‑Canel rejected the assessment that his country is on the brink of collapse, but said that Cuba faces serious problems. The Cuban leader, who described the current situation as extremely complex and painful for the people, said that a healthy dialogue could be conducted under pressure conditions.

Harsh Criticism of the Trump Administration

The Cuban President alleged that the Donald Trump administration was trying to put his country under a stranglehold. Diaz‑Canel criticized Washington's policies, arguing that the U.S. administration acted with bad intentions in this process.

176‑Item Reform Package from Havana

Diaz‑Canel also commented on the 176‑item reform package that was approved in June under an emergency decree. The Cuban leader, who said the package does not represent a capitalist reform and that capitalist restoration will not occur in Cuba, said the reforms aim to liberalize the economic structure and reduce centralization, and noted that 76.1 % of the measures have a legal basis.

Cuba's economy shrank by more than 15 % over five years.

According to estimates published in the domestic press, Cuba's economy contracted by more than 15 % between 2020 and 2025. Officials said the slowdown in the economy underscores the scale of the challenges the country has faced in recent years.

Fuel subsidy cuts and fare hikes are adding pressure on prices.

The petrol subsidy that the United States introduced at the start of the year, together with secondary measures targeting critical sectors of the economy from May onward, has further heightened Cuba's economic fragility, according to reports.

The crises in electricity and transportation are deepening.

It was reported that residents in Cuba are struggling due to power outages and serious disruptions in the public transport system. In a country where hospitals can only provide services at a minimum level, it was noted that food and drug prices in the informal markets have also risen to high levels.

Urgent Call for the International Community

International experts called on the international community to take urgent action to prevent the conditions in Cuba from worsening further. The experts said that action must be taken to prevent a severe humanitarian situation from emerging on the island.