Cuba’s senior diplomat to the United States is proposing expanded economic cooperation with the Trump administration, offering “mutually beneficial discussions,” as a senior U.S. official said the outreach “sounded like the regime is getting desperate.”
“There’s a huge range of issues that we can discuss with the U.S. that are, we’re pretty sure, for the benefit of the national interests of the U.S. and the national interest of Cuba,” Lianys Torres Rivera said, adding, “So, the U.S. wants to be engaged in the economic transformation in Cuba? Let’s do it.”
Torres Rivera said Havana is open to U.S. involvement in its economic transformation without compromising sovereignty, offering an early glimpse into Cuba’s position in ongoing talks led on the American side by Secretary of State Marco Rubio following a U.S. oil blockade imposed roughly two months ago.
Cuba is seeking relief from sanctions, including easing embargo restrictions, waiving Title III of the Helms-Burton Act, and removal from the state sponsors of terrorism list, as largely undisclosed talks continue, confirmed in mid-March by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel.
Torres Rivera also pointed to potential cooperation in areas like Alzheimer’s research and drug trafficking enforcement.
U.S. officials say any deal would require major political and economic changes in Cuba, including privatization and greater financial independence for citizens.
