HAVANA — Cuba’s government confirmed on Monday that it recently hosted U.S. officials in Havana amid continuing disputes over Washington’s energy restrictions. U.S. State Department officials had said last week that American diplomats traveled to the island earlier in April for the first time since 2016 as part of a renewed diplomatic effort; neither government has disclosed the precise date or full list of attendees.
Alejandro García del Toro, deputy director general for U.S. affairs at Cuba’s Foreign Ministry, said the U.S. team included assistant secretaries of state while the Cuban side was represented by officials at the deputy foreign minister level. He described the exchange as respectful and professional and disputed reports that the U.S. delegation issued threats or set deadlines.
García del Toro emphasized that ending the energy embargo is a top Cuban priority, calling the measure an unjustified punishment of the Cuban people and a form of global blackmail against sovereign states that seek to export fuel under normal trade rules.
The U.S. maintains it will not lift sanctions unless Cuba ends political repression, releases political prisoners and implements economic reforms. In late January, U.S. President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on countries that sell or supply oil to Cuba and warned of possible intervention; Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel responded last week that the country is prepared to resist if intervention occurs.