Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, firmly denied on Wednesday the existence of any secret or high-level discussions between Washington and Havana regarding a political transition on the island.
The Cuban regime's diplomat dismissed the rumors suggesting that family members of prominent regime figures are engaging in covert negotiations with the U.S. government as "gossip."
In an interview with La Jornada, Fernández de Cossío claimed that these rumors are merely "smokescreens" designed to obscure—according to him—the responsibility of the United States in the "criminal energy strangulation" plaguing Cuba, exacerbated by former President Donald Trump's executive order sanctioning countries exporting fuel to the island.
"These rumors serve to distract public opinion from the real crime: Washington's cruel and inhumane measures against the Cuban people," asserted the diplomat, who has become the most visible spokesperson for Cuban foreign affairs since early February.
The Alleged Negotiations
Fernández de Cossío's comments directly address reports circulating in international and Cuban exile media, which point to Colonel Alejandro Castro Espín, son of Raúl Castro, as a supposed interlocutor in discreet contacts with CIA representatives and U.S. officials in Mexico.
According to these unconfirmed reports, the discussions aim to explore mechanisms for a controlled transition, focusing on easing economic sanctions and opening strategic sectors to American investment without causing a total collapse of the political system.
Outlets such as ABC Internacional, El Colombiano, and Miami exile platforms have echoed these reports, suggesting meetings held on Mexican soil under the mediation of Claudia Sheinbaum's administration officials.
Cuba's Denial and Diplomatic Counterattack
Although no U.S. or Mexican diplomatic sources have verified these contacts, the rumors began after the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces in Caracas, an event that has reshaped the regional power map and increased geopolitical pressure on Cuba.
When asked about the situation, Fernández de Cossío was unequivocal: "There are no talks involving family members of any Cuban government representatives with the United States. Mexico is not playing any such role. Its relationship with Cuba is one of friendship and solidarity, not political mediation."
The official added that "there are currently no high-level discussions" between Havana and Washington, though he acknowledged the existence of "message exchanges," confirming informal diplomatic contacts but without an established dialogue table.
Fernández de Cossío's Media Offensive
In his declarations, Fernández de Cossío likened U.S. sanctions to colonial practices: "The oppressor blames the slave for not obeying enough. This behavior is similar to what the United States does with Cuba."
The deputy minister, who was involved in the Colombian peace process with the FARC, argued that Washington's policy seeks to "strangle" the population and restrict the sovereignty of other nations by dictating with whom they can trade.
"Blaming Cuba for the blockade is cynical and deceitful," he stated. "What the United States does with its fuel veto is a threat to the entire world."
Fernández de Cossío also refuted claims of division within the regime or internal fractures that could lead to a transition.
"Cuba is not a domain of the United States or any country. It is a sovereign state. We believe a dialogue with President Trump could be possible, but always from a standpoint of respect and equality," he added.
Since early February, Fernández de Cossío has led an intense media campaign, including interviews with CNN, The Economist, and now La Jornada, alongside social media messages targeting the international press.
His discourse, observers note, marks a shift in the regime's communication strategy: from defensive silence to an offensive strategy aimed at reclaiming the narrative amid international isolation and growing criticism within the island.
In parallel, government figures and official media have rallied around Fernández de Cossío's narrative. However, outside the state apparatus, his statements have been met with skepticism.
Fernández de Cossío has become the voice of a diplomacy trying to project strength amid collapse while attempting to hide the internal cracks of a system facing, perhaps for the first time in decades, the risk of running out of energy—both political and electrical—to sustain itself.
Key Questions on Cuba's Political Situation
What are the rumors about secret negotiations involving Cuban government family members?
Reports suggest that family members of prominent Cuban figures, like Alejandro Castro Espín, are allegedly involved in secret talks with U.S. representatives to negotiate a political transition. However, these claims remain unconfirmed.
How has the Cuban government responded to these allegations?
The Cuban government, through Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío, has categorically denied any such negotiations, labeling the claims as "gossip" and a diversion from U.S. actions against Cuba.