Cuba Talks to the U. S. as Energy Shortage Hits Hard

Cuban leaders have opened a conversation with Washington, a first step after years of tension. President Miguel Díaz‑Canel said the meetings aimed to tackle the growing power crisis and other differences between the two nations. He did not give details, but the timing suggests a response to the island’s lack of fuel. The U. S. has hinted at talks too, with President Donald Trump saying Secretary of State Marco Rubio is pushing for major changes in Cuba’s policies. Officials later confirmed that Rubio met secretly with a member of the former Castro family at a Caribbean leaders’ meeting. No one in Washington has yet said who he was speaking with inside the Cuban government. Díaz‑Canel explained that Cuba has not received petroleum in three months because of the U. S. blockade, forcing the country to rely on gas, solar and thermal power. Two plants have shut down, electricity is scarce, and even medical procedures have been delayed for tens of thousands. The president said the situation “has a tremendous impact” on daily life and that more oil is urgently needed.The island has tried to save fuel by converting over a hundred bakeries to firewood or coal. Ordinary citizens are feeling the strain, with many saying they cannot live without water or power and that productive talks could help. U. S. officials are considering reducing staff at the Havana embassy because of fuel shortages, which could trigger a reciprocal cut by Cuba in Washington. Some experts worry that fewer diplomats would make it harder to understand what is happening on the ground, especially as Trump pushes for dramatic change. The energy crisis also ties into broader U. S. policy: after Venezuela’s oil shipments were halted, the Trump administration warned Cuba that it could face a similar fate. Trump recently told Latin American leaders that “Cuba is very much at the end of the line” and expects significant changes soon. In addition, FBI officials are set to visit Cuba to share information about a recent shooting incident involving a Florida‑flagged boat, where several Cuban citizens were killed and others detained on terrorism charges.