Cuban President denies talks with US after Trump urges Havana to make a deal

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on Monday that there were no conversations with the United States, rejecting President Donald Trump’s claim that the two countries were in talks following recent developments in Venezuela.

“There are no conversations with the US government except for technical contacts in the area of migration,” Diaz-Canel wrote on X.

His remarks came after Trump said discussions were underway following the US military’s toppling of Venezuela’s leftist leader, Nicolas Maduro, a close ally of Havana.

Trump on Sunday urged Cuba to “make a deal” soon, warning that Washington would cut off all oil and money previously provided to the island by Venezuela. Maduro was arrested in what was described as a lightning raid on January 3.

The United States has imposed sanctions on Cuba for decades, but Trump has intensified pressure in recent days.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, he said there would be no more oil or money going to Cuba and strongly suggested the country make a deal before it was too late. Trump did not provide details about what such a deal would involve.

Diaz-Canel responded sharply, saying that no one would dictate terms to Cuba. He added that relations with the United States must be based on international law rather than hostility, threats, and economic coercion.