Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel, Photo: Adalberto Roque / AFP / Profimedia Images
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel on Friday reaffirmed his country's willingness to engage in dialogue with the United States, but without making “any political concession”, at a time when American President Donald Trump is intensifying his threats against the communist island, reports AFP, taken over by Agerpres.
“We will always be open to dialogue and improving relations between the two countries, but on an equal footing and on the basis of mutual respect,” said the Cuban president in a speech in Havana, in front of the US embassy.
“However, Cuba has no political concessions to make,” he said. “This will never be on the negotiating table for a rapprochement between Cuba and the United States,” he added.
US President Donald Trump has stepped up his threats against Cuba following the January 3 attack by US forces in Caracas, which led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the communist island's main ally.
During the operation, 32 Cuban soldiers, some of whom were part of Maduro's security team, were killed.
Cuba accuses Washington of “political manipulation” over the humanitarian aid sent by the US to the victims of Hurricane Melissa
Trump asked Havana to “reach an agreement” or face consequences, and went so far as to suggest that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio should be Cuba's president.
Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, has repeatedly spoken about the need for regime change on the island, which is governed by the Communist Party (PCC, the single party).
The American president, who took control of the Venezuelan oil sector, recently announced the cessation of oil and aid shipments to the island. Venezuela has been Cuba's main oil supplier since 2000.
On Monday, Miguel Diaz-Canel denied the existence of ongoing discussions with the United States, as claimed by Donald Trump.
