The United States has told Cuba that for meaningful progress to be made in negotiations, the country’s hardline Communist President Miguel Díaz-Canel must step down. The Trump administration’s message that Mr. Díaz-Canel must go has not been articulated as an ultimatum, but presented as a positive step that would pave the way for productive deals.
Díaz-Canel is the first — and so far the only — person whose last name is not Castro to run Cuba since the 1959 victory of the Communist revolution.
U.S. negotiators also want Cuba to agree to remove from power some older officials who remain committed to the ideas of Fidel Castro, the father of the communist revolution, the New York Times reported. And the Americans are pushing for the release of political prisoners, a longstanding policy goal of the United States.
Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, a grandson of Raúl Castro, has been a main negotiator with the United States, speaking directly to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, and would likely continue to steer the government after Mr. Díaz-Canel ’s departure, the New York Times reported.
Mr. Rodríguez Castro, known as Raulito, would nonetheless have power behind the scenes, with another figure who does not bear the Castro last name officially holding office, alleged the New York Times report.
Yesterday, USA Today reported Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, Cuba’s economic czar, said his country was “open to maintaining a fluid commercial relationship with US companies” and “also with Cubans living in the United States and their descendants."
Fraga made the comments in an interview in Havana ahead of formally announcing the policy. His remarks follow the first public confirmation − on March 13 − from Cuba that talks have taken place between Havana and Washington, in a sign the communist-run nation is open to signing a possible historic economic deal with the United States.
Fraga made the comments in an interview in Havana ahead of formally announcing the policy. His remarks follow the first public confirmation − on March 13 − from Cuba that talks have taken place between Havana and Washington, in a sign the communist-run nation is open to signing a possible historic economic deal with the United States, claimed the USA Today report.
"This extends beyond the commercial sphere," added Fraga, who also serves as Cuba's minister of foreign trade and investment. "It also applies to investments − not only small investments, but also large investments, particularly in infrastructure.”
In the interview with NBC, Fraga said the economic reforms he is unveiling are aimed at creating what he called a “dynamic business environment" to help revive sectors, from tourism and mining to fixing and updating Cuba's out of date power grid.
The Miami Herald reported on March 13 that the Cuban government was expected to soon announce the economic reforms that would allow Cuban Americans living in South Florida and elsewhere in the U.S. and around the world to invest and own private businesses on the Caribbean island.
“You know, all my life I’ve been hearing about the United States and Cuba. When will the United States do it?” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday.
Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state and son of Cuban immigrants, has long made it clear he wants regime change in Havana. President Trump has also called for a “friendly takeover”, but recently told reporters: “It may not be a friendly takeover.”
Since removing Maduro from power in January and joining Israel in attacking Iran, the President has openly mused that Cuba would be “next”.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on March 15, President Trump said Cuba is a failed nation. "Cuba also wants to make a deal, and I think we will pretty soon, or either make a deal, or do whatever we have to do," he said.
"I think something will happen with Cuba pretty quickly," the President concluded.
George Rasley is editor of Richard Viguerie's ConservativeHQ.com and is a veteran of over 300 political campaigns. A member of American MENSA, he served on the staff of Vice President Dan Quayle, as Director of Policy and Communication for former Congressman Adam Putnam (FL-12) then Vice Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee's Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, and as spokesman for retired Rep. Mac Thornberry formerly a member of the House Intelligence Committee and Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
Díaz-Canel is the first — and so far the only — person whose last name is not Castro to run Cuba since the 1959 victory of the Communist revolution.
U.S. negotiators also want Cuba to agree to remove from power some older officials who remain committed to the ideas of Fidel Castro, the father of the communist revolution, the New York Times reported. And the Americans are pushing for the release of political prisoners, a longstanding policy goal of the United States.
Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, a grandson of Raúl Castro, has been a main negotiator with the United States, speaking directly to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, and would likely continue to steer the government after Mr. Díaz-Canel ’s departure, the New York Times reported.
Mr. Rodríguez Castro, known as Raulito, would nonetheless have power behind the scenes, with another figure who does not bear the Castro last name officially holding office, alleged the New York Times report.
Yesterday, USA Today reported Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, Cuba’s economic czar, said his country was “open to maintaining a fluid commercial relationship with US companies” and “also with Cubans living in the United States and their descendants."
Fraga made the comments in an interview in Havana ahead of formally announcing the policy. His remarks follow the first public confirmation − on March 13 − from Cuba that talks have taken place between Havana and Washington, in a sign the communist-run nation is open to signing a possible historic economic deal with the United States.
Fraga made the comments in an interview in Havana ahead of formally announcing the policy. His remarks follow the first public confirmation − on March 13 − from Cuba that talks have taken place between Havana and Washington, in a sign the communist-run nation is open to signing a possible historic economic deal with the United States, claimed the USA Today report.
"This extends beyond the commercial sphere," added Fraga, who also serves as Cuba's minister of foreign trade and investment. "It also applies to investments − not only small investments, but also large investments, particularly in infrastructure.”
In the interview with NBC, Fraga said the economic reforms he is unveiling are aimed at creating what he called a “dynamic business environment" to help revive sectors, from tourism and mining to fixing and updating Cuba's out of date power grid.
The Miami Herald reported on March 13 that the Cuban government was expected to soon announce the economic reforms that would allow Cuban Americans living in South Florida and elsewhere in the U.S. and around the world to invest and own private businesses on the Caribbean island.
“You know, all my life I’ve been hearing about the United States and Cuba. When will the United States do it?” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday.
Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state and son of Cuban immigrants, has long made it clear he wants regime change in Havana. President Trump has also called for a “friendly takeover”, but recently told reporters: “It may not be a friendly takeover.”
Since removing Maduro from power in January and joining Israel in attacking Iran, the President has openly mused that Cuba would be “next”.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on March 15, President Trump said Cuba is a failed nation. "Cuba also wants to make a deal, and I think we will pretty soon, or either make a deal, or do whatever we have to do," he said.
"I think something will happen with Cuba pretty quickly," the President concluded.
George Rasley is editor of Richard Viguerie's ConservativeHQ.com and is a veteran of over 300 political campaigns. A member of American MENSA, he served on the staff of Vice President Dan Quayle, as Director of Policy and Communication for former Congressman Adam Putnam (FL-12) then Vice Chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee's Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, and as spokesman for retired Rep. Mac Thornberry formerly a member of the House Intelligence Committee and Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee.
