US-Cuba negotiations stall over demand for Díaz-Canel to step down

Secret negotiations between the United States and Cuba have reportedly stalled following a U.S. demand for the departure of President Miguel Díaz-Canel. The backchannel talks, which involved Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as ‘El Cangrejo’, had aimed to address Cuba’s severe energy crisis and political tensions.

Initial discussions reportedly explored economic concessions, including the prospect of steady oil supplies and private sector investment to stabilize Cuba’s deteriorating energy grid. This included the potential privatization of the state oil entity, Unión Cuba-Petróleo (CUPET), and discussions regarding service stations managed by CIMEX, a conglomerate linked to the military-run GAESA.

While reports suggest these talks hit an impasse over the future of Cuba’s leadership, the Cuban charge d’affaires in Washington, Lianys Torres Rivera, stated that while communication channels exist, there are no formal negotiations currently underway.