• Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel declares there are "no conversations" with the U.S.
• Trump threatens to cut off oil and financial support to Cuba from Venezuela.
• Diaz-Canel emphasizes the need for mutual respect and international law in U.S.-Cuba relations.
• Cuba faces an economic crisis exacerbated by U.S. sanctions and reduced oil supplies.
• Experts suggest that the current situation may be a tactical pause for Cuba's government.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel confirmed on Monday that there are "no conversations" with the United States, following recent threats from President Donald Trump regarding U.S. actions against Venezuela. Diaz-Canel emphasized that technical contacts around migration are ongoing, but no significant discussions are taking place. He stated, "For relations between the U.S. and Cuba to progress, they must be based on international law rather than hostility, threats, and economic coercion," asserting Cuba's commitment to its sovereignty and independence according to South China Morning Post, Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera, Los Angeles Times, and India Times.

Trump had stated that Cuba should "make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE," referring to the cut-off of financial support and oil from Venezuela due to U.S. military action against the Maduro regime, which poses a significant threat to Cuba's economy. The attack, which occurred on January 3, led to the killing of 32 Cuban officers and the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a key ally for Cuba, as noted by various experts in energy and U.S. foreign relations according to South China Morning Post, Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera, Los Angeles Times, and India Times.

The loss of approximately 35,000 barrels of oil per day from Venezuela will worsen Cuba's existing economic plight already exacerbated by U.S. sanctions, which Cuba estimates have cost the nation over $7.5 billion between March 2024 and February 2025. The island's energy crisis continues, leading to frequent blackouts and further complications with its aging infrastructure, as emphasized by analysts in the field according to South China Morning Post, Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera, Los Angeles Times, and India Times.

Analysts note that Diaz-Canel's statements may serve as a strategic delay, giving the Cuban government time to assess its options amidst deepening economic pressures. Andy S. Gomez, a senior fellow in Cuban Studies at the University of Miami mentioned that there seems to be no urgency from Diaz-Canel towards U.S. officials, highlighting a missed opportunity during the previous thaw in relations under the Obama administration according to South China Morning Post, Channel News Asia, Al Jazeera, Los Angeles Times, and India Times.