Rubio reportedly misleading Trump over non-existent Cuba negotiations

US President Donald Trump maintains that his administration is conducting in-depth negotiations with the Cuban government, even as his team continues to apply “maximum pressure” on the island nation.

Speaking to reporters at Mar-a-Lago on February 1, Trump stated: “We are talking to the top people in Cuba to see what is going to happen. I think we will make a deal.”

However, five officials from both Havana and Washington, speaking to DropSite News on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of bilateral relations, stated that, contrary to these claims, no high-level negotiations are currently underway.

A senior Trump administration official indicated that the President’s statements are based on briefings provided to him by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The source noted that Rubio has cultivated a perception that serious diplomacy is being conducted between the US and Cuba. However, the source alleged that Rubio’s true objective is to claim in a few months that these talks failed due to Cuban intransigence, thereby presenting a regime-change strategy as the only remaining option.

State Department cannot provide evidence of negotiations

When questioned regarding allegations that Rubio is misleading Trump about non-existent talks, the State Department press office merely reiterated the claim that negotiations are taking place.

In a statement delivered via an administration official, the department noted: “As the President has stated, we are talking to Cuba; their leaders must make a deal. Cuba is a collapsing nation that has taken a major blow as support from Venezuela has been cut off and Mexico has halted oil shipments.”

The statement, however, failed to provide any concrete data regarding where the meetings were held, who participated, or on what dates they occurred.

It is widely understood that Trump does not seek an ideological confrontation with Cuba and recognizes the potential the island holds for American corporations.

Conversely, Rubio is in a position where he cannot justify any steps toward normalization with the communist government to his political base in Florida.

If Trump were to successfully sign a deal, Rubio would be forced to either betray the values he has championed throughout his political career or resign from his post.

Havana administration announces readiness for negotiations through every channel

During a recent press conference, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel stated that his government is open to discussing every issue—from human rights and tourism to direct foreign investment—with the US, provided that sovereignty is respected and no pressure is applied.

Cuban officials emphasize that current contacts with Washington remain restricted to technical levels, such as the repatriation of migrants, and that no political dialogue has been established.

Díaz-Canel addressed Donald Trump directly in televised and radio broadcasts, stating, “We are a country of peace; we are not a threat to the US.”

Havana’s desire for negotiations stems from a deepening energy crisis on the island, exacerbated by a presidential executive order issued by Trump on January 29. The order mandates heavy tariffs on countries providing oil to Cuba.

Energy crisis leads to nationwide restrictions

As a result of US pressure, the Mexican state-owned oil company PEMEX has halted shipments to Cuba, leaving the island with approximately two to three weeks of oil reserves.

The Cuban government has implemented nationwide energy conservation plans. These measures include a reduction in public transport services, lowered individual gasoline quotas, and restrictions on in-person secondary education.

While officials warn that aviation fuel is nearing depletion, reports indicate that US forces are tracking tankers suspected of carrying fuel to Cuba in regions as distant as the Indian Ocean.

The threat of a total collapse of the island’s power grid is the primary factor driving Havana toward an immediate seat at the negotiating table with Washington.