U.S. not interested in improving relations with Cuba

Despite Cuba’s efforts to improve relations by cooperating on deportation flights, the connection with the United States remains difficult due to influential figures in the U.S. government advocating for strong sanctions and the decline of the Cuban government, said a Cuban official. 

Immediately after assuming control of the government, the Trump administration reinstated sanctions and placed Cuba on the list of state sponsors of terrorism, while also threatening visa restrictions over alleged labor rights violations linked to Cuban medical missions. Cuba has denied these allegations and blames the difficulties on advocates of maximum pressure within the U.S. government, accusing them of intentionally escalating tensions to justify further actions. Despite the challenges, Cuba maintains its commitment to building relationships with the American people.

A significant factor in the strained relations is the strong advocacy for a tough stance on Cuba by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former special envoy Mauricio Claver-Carone, who stated in February that the administration had “very creative” policy options at its disposal to induce the collapse of Cuba’s communist government.

The Trump administration implemented several measures that adversely affected relations:

• Restoration of Cuba to the list of state sponsors of terrorism in January, which had been removed during his last week in office by the Biden administration.
• Introduction of a new State Department policy threatening visa restrictions on officials involved in alleged labor rights abuses against Cuban doctors on state-sponsored medical missions. These missions are emphasized as a significant source of income for the Cuban government.

In an exclusive interview with Politico, Johana Tablada, a senior official in Cuba’s foreign ministry responsible for relations with Washington, stated that the bilateral relationship is currently “at zero” and that “the State Department is not interested in having conversations with Cuba that have existed” even during times of significant disagreement in the past. In the article, Tablada “blames the impasse in relations on those who advocate for maximum pressure on Cuba within the U.S. government.”

Tablada denied the allegations of mistreating doctors on medical missions and supporting terrorist groups. She accused Rubio and others of intentionally escalating tensions to justify further retaliatory measures, adding, “They’re doing everything possible to blow up what’s left of the relationship, and the adult in the room is the Cuban government.”

Despite the challenges, Tablada asserts that Cuba remains dedicated to fostering strong ties with the American people. “We’re going to continue cultivating our relations with the United States, which have a long history and have been neighborly and reciprocal,” she said.