Cuba open to dialogue with U.S. as fuel shortages worsen

[World Leaders Gather In New York For The United Nations General Assembly]
Adam Gray/Getty Images News

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said his government is prepared to engage with the Trump administration, as the island braces for severe fuel shortages in the coming days.

"Cuba is willing to engage in dialogue with the United States; to engage in dialogue on any topic," he said during a press conference broadcast on state TV and radio.

But Díaz-Canel insisted that dialogue with the U.S. must be without pressure or preconditions, "on equal footing, with respect for our sovereignty, our independence, our self-determination."

He said he'd spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin and China's Xi Jinping, both of whom expressed their support and commitment to continue cooperation with Venezuela and Cuba.

Díaz-Canel also noted that his government was working towards increasing oil production and fuel storage capacity, and within a week, it will let the public know what measures will be implemented to address fuel shortages.

Following the press conference, the U.S. government announced [https://www.state.gov/press-briefing-with-jeremy-p-lewin-acting-under-secretary-of-state-for-foreign-assistance-humanitarian-affairs-and-religious-freedom-to-announce-additional-humanitarian-support/] an additional $6M in aid for Cuba.

Meanwhile, Mexican officials are exploring how fuel can be sent to Cuba without triggering reprisals from the U.S., four sources familiar with the matter told [https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/mexico-seeking-way-to-send-fuel-cuba-without-being-hit-by-us-tariffs-sources-say-2026-02-05/] _Reuters_.

U.S. President Donald Trump last week signed an executive order authorizing tariffs on countries that sell or provide oil to Cuba, claiming the island supports "hostile actors, terrorism, and regional instability that endanger American security and foreign policy."

Mexico is Cuba's largest oil supplier, after Venezuelan oil shipments to the island ceased in the wake of a U.S. blockade and the capture of Nicolás Maduro.

MORE ON CUBA

* Cubans rendered powerless as outages persist, U.S. tensions escalate [https://seekingalpha.com/pr/20389991-cubans-rendered-powerless-as-outages-persist-and-tensions-with-us-escalate]
* Cuba's oil supplies seen lasting 15-20 days as shipments dry up [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4543990-cuba-oil-supplies-seen-lasting-15-20-days]
* Mexico said to reconsider sending oil to Cuba amid fears of U.S. reprisal [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4542305-mexico-reconsiders-sending-oil-shipments-to-cuba]
* Cuba said to face potential breakdown as U.S. squeezes Venezuelan oil [https://seekingalpha.com/news/4533853-cuba-is-said-to-face-potential-breakdown-as-u-s-squeezes-venezuelan-oil]