Cuba confirms ‘communications’ with U.S., but says no negotiations yet

Cuba acknowledges communication with the U.S. but states no formal negotiations have begun amid ongoing pressure from Trump.

Cuba’s government on Monday (February 2, 2026) told AFP that it was in “communication” with U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration but not yet in formal talks on a deal to end Washington’s pressure campaign on the island.

“Today we cannot talk about having dialogue with the United States, but it is true that there have been communications between the two governments,” Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said in an interview.

Mr. Trump on Sunday (February 2, 2026) claimed the United States was in talks with “the highest people” in communist Cuba and that he expected to “make a deal” with its leadership, without saying what a deal might look like.

Mr. De Cossio repeated that Cuba was “open to dialogue” with the United States amid calls from Cubans for the government to negotiate to avert a humanitarian crisis.

Mr. Trump has been ratcheting up pressure on Havana since the January 3 capture by U.S. special forces of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, a top Cuba ally and financial backer.

Pressured by Washington, Venezuela’s new administration has cut crude shipments to Cuba.