Cuba Confirms Havana Talks with Trump Admin

Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Monday that officials from the island and the Trump administration recently held meetings in Havana. 

News of the meetings had been reported by Axios’ Marc Caputo, sourcing a senior State Department official who told him “the island's ruling elites have a small window to make key U.S. backed reforms before circumstances irreversibly worsen.”

Cuba's General Deputy Director for U.S. Affairs Alejandro García del Toro denied any ultimatum was issued.

“Neither side set deadlines or made any coercive demands as U.S. media outlets have echoed,” García del Toro said in a statement. “All exchanges took place respectfully and professionally.”

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the delegations were headed by “assistant secretaries from the U.S. State Department” and “a Cuban delegation led by a deputy minister of foreign relations.”

Axios’ report listed alleged Trump administration demands, including compensation for property nationalized during the Cuban revolution, the release of “political prisoners” and greater political freedoms on the island.

Cuban Ambassador to the UN Ernesto Soberón Guzmán told AP Thursday that internal affairs, including discussions about the release of detainees, “are not on the negotiating table.”

AP cited a State Department statement in response: “The Cuban regime should stop playing games as direct talks are occurring. They have a small window to make a deal.”