The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is insisting on the resignation of current President Miguel Díaz-Canel during negotiations with representatives from Cuba. Washington believes that his removal will be a decisive step towards implementing economic reforms on the island.
This is reported by Finway
Removal of Díaz-Canel: Political Pressure and Expectations
According to sources, during the negotiations, the American side clearly communicated to the Cuban negotiators that it expects a voluntary departure of Díaz-Canel from power. At the same time, the U.S. is not demanding immediate action regarding members of the Castro family, who remain influential figures in Cuba’s political life. This approach aligns with Washington’s strategy, which envisions maintaining the regime but with gradual renewal.
Some representatives of the Trump administration believe that changing the head of state will pave the way for deeper economic transformations that the current president is unlikely to support. If the Cuban side agrees, this could lead to significant political shifts and become a symbolic victory for Trump, who already has experience with similar policies regarding Venezuela.
U.S. Demands and Cuban Response
At the same time, American negotiators are also insisting on the release of political prisoners and the removal from power of certain senior officials loyal to Fidel Castro’s ideals. The negotiations are focused on gradually opening Cuba’s economy to American companies and businesses.
“I truly believe I will have the honor of taking Cuba,” Mr. Trump said on Monday.
It is noted that the U.S. position does not appear to be an ultimatum but is presented as a positive step for the future of bilateral agreements. The Cuban participants in the negotiations did not oppose this idea but emphasized the importance of independence in decision-making.
It is known that the chief negotiator for Cuba is Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, who is closely collaborating with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Following the likely resignation of Díaz-Canel, he could become a key figure in the Cuban government.
During a 90-minute press conference, Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed the fact of active negotiations with the U.S. while placing the blame for prolonged power outages on Washington’s trade embargo. Specifically, on Monday, the country experienced a blackout due to a failure in the power grid.
The U.S. State Department refrained from commenting, citing recent statements by President Trump regarding Cuba. The White House emphasizes that it does not plan to use military force, as was the case with Venezuela, and is relying on political and economic pressure.
It should be noted that amidst the negotiations, there are mass disturbances occurring in the country. In the city of Morón, a peaceful demonstration turned into clashes after police intervention, indicating rising social tension in Cuba.