Cuba’s top diplomat in Washington, Lianys Torres Rivera, told Reuters on Monday that while communication channels between Cuba and the US remain open, there are no ongoing negotiations. These communications include meetings, phone calls, and WhatsApp messages but have not led to any progress or agenda for formal talks. Torres Rivera emphasized that Cuba remains committed to respectful dialogue but is wary of President Trump's threats and has prepared defenses against potential military actions, rejecting claims of Cuban interference in US affairs as a pretext for economic pressure.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Cuba and the United States have maintained channels of communication but are not engaged in any formal negotiations, according to Lianys Torres Rivera, Cuba's top diplomat in Washington. Speaking on October 5, Torres Rivera stated that while Cuba remains open to respectful dialogue, it is not naive about President Donald Trump’s threats and has increased preparations for potential US military action. The latest diplomatic contacts between the two nations have included meetings, phone calls, and WhatsApp messages, but no progress has been made toward an agenda or restarting official talks. Torres Rivera did not provide specific details on the timing, topics, or participants in these communications.
Written for “Cuba Us Communication Channels” on 2026-10-05,
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Leaning: leans left for article 58421 (high confidence, 2 verified quotes) · logged 2026-10-05
Cuba and US maintain 'channels of communication' but no negotiations, diplomat says
WASHINGTON, Oct 5 - Cuba and the United States have maintained “channels of communication” but are not currently engaged in any formal negotiations, Havana’s top diplomat in Washington told Reuters, as the Trump administration pursues a pressure campaign against the communist-ruled island.
asserted
administration → maintain → island
In an interview on Monday, Lianys Torres Rivera, chargé d’affaires at the embassy in Washington, said Cuba remains open to a “respectful” dialogue but is “not naïve” about President Donald Trump’s threats and has increased preparations to defend itself in the event of any US military action.
asserted
Cuba → say → action
The latest US-Cuba diplomatic contacts have involved meetings as well as phone calls and WhatsApp messages, but the two sides have made no progress toward an negotiating agenda or restarting official talks, she said.
asserted
she → involve → talks
“What we have with the US is channels of communication,” Torres Rivera said.
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Rivera → say → communication
She declined to provide details on the timing, topics and participants.
asserted
She → decline → timing
Her description of the communications appear to fall short of Trump’s assertion at the United Nations last month that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was “deep into negotiations” with Havana.
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Rubio → appear → Havana
Trump also called Cuba an "failed state” and predicted its government would fall.
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government → call → Cuba
The Cuban delegation walked out in protest.
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delegation → walk → protest
Trump has openly stated that his goal is to fundamentally change Cuba's government.
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goal → state → government
A US-imposed oil blockade has put the country under severe strain as it contends with fuel shortages and blackouts exacerbated by failing infrastructure.
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it → impose → infrastructure
UN human rights experts have condemned the oil blockade as a violation of international law.
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experts → condemn → law
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said at the end of June that talks initiated earlier this year with the US had stalled, and in early September that no talks were under way or planned.
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talks → say → way
The White House and State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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House → respond → comment
CUBA'S 'RED LINE'
Torres Rivera said Cuba’s “red line” remains that Havana is unwilling to negotiate any changes in its political system, seeing Trump’s demands for the removal of the Cuban leadership as a violation of sovereignty.
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Havana → say → sovereignty
She rejected the Trump administration’s claims that Cuba was a threat to US national security or is interfering in US domestic affairs, and said Washington was using such accusations as a pretext to continue squeezing the island economically in what she called “collective punishment.”
uncertain
she → reject → what
The Trump administration tightened the embargo against Cuba last week, further restricting travel there by Americans and access to US banking for its private sector.
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administration → tighten → sector
Those measures, said Torres Rivera, contradict US insistence that it wants Cuba to expand private enterprise.
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Cuba → say → enterprise
Facing US pressure, Cuba in June unveiled free-market reforms that, if fully implemented, would represent the biggest change to the island's socialist economy since former leader Fidel Castro took control in 1959.
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Castro → face → 1959
But Washington says the reforms do not go far enough and has also called for "free and fair" elections.
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reforms → say → elections
Despite the gaps, Trump predicted late last month that the US and Cuba “will make a deal,” adding, ”I don't think we'll need the military.”
But the Cuban government remains wary.
“Cuba has always been preparing for an aggression from the US,” Torres Rivera said.
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Rivera → predict → US
“And we are increasing our capabilities now more than ever before …
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we → increase → capabilities
It is to defend ourselves.”
asserted
It → defend → ourselves
The Aporia
