This Monday, the Cuban government confirmed a meeting between Cuban and U.S. delegations in Havana, but denied any deadlines or conditions being imposed by Washington during the discussions. This stands in direct contradiction to reports from American media outlets.
In statements to the official Cuban newspaper Granma, Alejandro García del Toro, the deputy director general for the U.S. at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX), acknowledged the meeting, emphasizing that it was a "respectful and professional" exchange.
"I can confirm that a meeting between Cuban and U.S. delegations recently took place here in Cuba. The U.S. side was represented by deputy secretaries from the State Department, while the Cuban side was represented at the vice minister level from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," stated García del Toro, highlighting that neither side set deadlines or issued ultimatums.
However, American media had reported that it was the first time since 2016 that a U.S. government plane landed in Cuba, and that Washington had allegedly set an April 24 deadline for the Cuban government to release political prisoners.
Names brought up during the negotiations included artists and activists like Otero Alcántara and Maykel Osorbo from the San Isidro Movement.
On April 6, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara ended a hunger strike after weeks of tension, a situation that had drawn significant international attention. Earlier, on March 23, a Cuban court had rejected a habeas corpus petition on his behalf.
Previous reports indicated that the U.S. delegation also proposed introducing the Starlink satellite internet service to Cuba as part of the discussions.
According to USA Today's report, the negotiations also reportedly involved Raúl Castro's grandson, who is in charge of his personal security, underscoring the high political stakes of the encounter.
Key Details on the U.S.-Cuba Meeting
What did the Cuban government confirm about the meeting with the U.S.?
The Cuban government confirmed the meeting took place, describing it as a "respectful and professional" exchange, but denied that any deadlines or conditions were set by the U.S.
Who were some of the key figures mentioned in the negotiations?
The negotiations mentioned artists and activists such as Otero Alcántara and Maykel Osorbo, associated with the San Isidro Movement.
What potential proposal did the U.S. delegation make during the talks?
The U.S. delegation reportedly proposed the introduction of the Starlink satellite internet service to Cuba as part of the discussions.