US President Donald Trump has in recent weeks threatened punitive tariffs on countries that sell oil to Cuba. He has also said that the US has begun talks with Cuba's leaders to reach an "agreement", without elaborating on what such an agreement would entail.
Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío said the countries have exchanged messages, but that "there is no dialogue right now." He said he welcomed talks.
"We are open to dialogue. If we can have a dialogue, maybe it can lead to negotiations," Carlos Fernández de Cossío said, according to the AP.
Cuba is struggling with an acute economic crisis, ongoing power outages, disruptions to oil shipments from Venezuela, and US sanctions that, according to Cuban officials, have cost the country more than $7.5 billion - approximately SEK 67 billion - between March 2024 and February 2025.
The Deputy Foreign Minister said he was open to "informal talks" but that the country's constitution, economy and system of government are not up for discussion.
