Diaz-Canel condemns US pressure, insists Cuba will not surrender

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has said dialogue with the United States has stalled and there is no clear agenda for negotiations.

Diaz-Canel also denied claims that Cuba is on the verge of economic collapse, as reported by the Brazilian newspaper Folha de S.Paulo and cited by Anadolu on Wednesday.

“There is a willingness to engage in dialogue and there are officials from our government who have spoken with US government officials. However, so far it has not been possible to make progress. There is no agenda,” Diaz-Canel said.

He said Cuba remains willing to open channels of dialogue with the US, but rejects negotiations conducted under pressure.

“There must be no dialogue under oppression. We need to seek channels of dialogue without preconditions,” he stressed.

He also accused the US of attempting to close off all available avenues for Cuba, referring to statements by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Diaz-Canel also rejected claims that his country is on the brink of collapse, despite shortages of fuel, electricity, food and medicines.

“We are in a complex situation, but this situation is marked by the extraordinary creativity and historic resilience of the Cuban people,” he said.

Furthermore, Diaz-Canel acknowledged various problems caused by government bureaucracy and delays in implementing reforms, but said Cuba’s economic crisis is primarily caused by the US “blockade”.

Diaz-Canel defended a package of 176 economic measures approved by Cuba’s parliament in June, saying the reforms aim to strengthen the country’s socialist economic model.

The measures expand the role of the private business sector and foreign investment, but he rejected the notion that the policies represent a shift towards capitalism.

The interview took place amid rising tensions between Cuba and the US, as the Trump administration tightens economic pressure on Cuba.

Diaz-Canel said Havana will continue to defend its sovereignty while remaining open to dialogue with Washington without preconditions.