US open to Cuba talks on government change, Marco Rubio says
News Source
β’Wed, 23 Sep 2026 18:34:20 +0000
π° What Happened
The United States says it is open to talks with Cuba about a political move to new leadership. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this in New York on Wednesday. He said Cuba has "a golden opportunity" to build a better future.
Rubio said Washington will work with Cuban leaders whose "hands are not stained with blood". He admitted some are "quite recalcitrant". He said US and diaspora investors are ready to help Cuba change its economy.
Cuba denies that any talks are happening. The US has imposed an oil blockade this year, causing fuel shortages and blackouts. Trump called Cuba a "failed state" on Tuesday, and the Cuban team walked out of the hall.
π The Backstory
The US embargo on Cuba began after Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution. It has lasted for decades and shaped the island's economy.
Since 1992 the UN General Assembly has voted each year to urge the US to lift the embargo. In July a vote showed slightly less support for Cuba: 136 states backed a debate, nine opposed it and 30 abstained.
Cuba says the embargo cost its economy $8bn between March 2025 and February 2026. Its foreign minister called the policy "genocidal". Brazil's President Lula also criticised the blockade at the UN this week.
π― Why It Matters
Millions of Cubans face shortages of fuel, food and power. A deal could change daily life there, while failure keeps the hardship going.
The United States says it is open to talks with Cuba about a political move to new leadership. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said this in New York on Wednesday. He said Cuba has "a golden opportunity" to build a better future.
Rubio said Washington will work with Cuban leaders whose "hands are not stained with blood". He admitted some are "quite recalcitrant". He said US and diaspora investors are ready to help Cuba change its economy.
Cuba denies that any talks are happening. The US has imposed an oil blockade this year, causing fuel shortages and blackouts. Trump called Cuba a "failed state" on Tuesday, and the Cuban team walked out of the hall.
The US embargo on Cuba began after Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution. It has lasted for decades and shaped the island's economy.
Since 1992 the UN General Assembly has voted each year to urge the US to lift the embargo. In July a vote showed slightly less support for Cuba: 136 states backed a debate, nine opposed it and 30 abstained.
Cuba says the embargo cost its economy $8bn between March 2025 and February 2026. Its foreign minister called the policy "genocidal". Brazil's President Lula also criticised the blockade at the UN this week.
Millions of Cubans face shortages of fuel, food and power. A deal could change daily life there, while failure keeps the hardship going.