HAVANA.—The President Miguel Díaz-Canel He assured yesterday that Cuba is moving to obtain external cooperation and implementing plans to meet energy demand after Donald Trump’s warning of apply tariffs to countries that send oil to the island.
He also reiterated that he is willing to maintain a dialogue with the United Statesbut without putting the basis of the socialist model into play.
“We are clear that there are concerns in the population about everything that has been happening due to the intense media campaign of slander and hatred,” Díaz-Canel said in an appearance before a group of national media.
Last week Trump threatened to impose sanctions on countries that send or sell oil to Cuba, that depends on imported crude oil, in a new chapter of pressure after the US intervention in Venezuela at the beginning of January.
Cuba produces only 40% of the crude oil it needs y The rest is obtained from Venezuela, Russia and Mexico. Its Gross Domestic Product fell 15% in recent years.
Venezuela has been a political and economic ally of the island for more than two decades, supplying it under agreements with oil, among other things.
After the capture of Nicolás MaduroTrump cut off the supply, accused Cuba of being a failed state, and demanded that it negotiate before it was too “late.”
Meanwhile, the blackouts that Cubans suffered in the last three years have worsened these weeks, causing all kinds of damage to daily life, from water supply to cooking food. “The collapse is in the imperial philosophy, but not in the mentality of Cubans,” said Díaz-Canel, although he acknowledged that “we have lived through difficult times.”
Allies of Cuba
After the order the Trumpseveral countries expressed their rejection, especially Mexico, Russia and China. The first two nations sold oil to Cuba, but it is unknown whether they will continue to do so, defying Trump.
“We have felt support at the international level, there are various opinions from spokespersons, from foreign ministries, from leaders, from movements,” said Díaz-Canel, who highlighted that “behind those speeches there are more things, things that we cannot explain openly because the enemy is in pursuit of all the lights, of all the paths that can be opened to Cuba, but I can tell you with all sense of responsibility that Cuba is not alone.”
Also on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi expressed his opposition to “interference by foreign forces” in Cuba and promised to “continue offering support and assistance within his capabilities” during a meeting with his Cuban counterpartBruno Rodríguez.
Rodríguez’s visit to Beijing is part of a tour with which the Cuban government seeks the support of its allies, which also include Russia and Vietnam, in the face of the United States’ energy blockade.
Likewise, Díaz-Canel assured that there are plans to increase solar parks – 49 were installed last year – and the production of electricity from gas, while some 5,000 photovoltaic kits are being placed in health or emergency centers, and another 10,000 are delivered to workers in priority areas, while storage is expanded in anticipation of the oil that does manage to arrive.
Not negotiable
Díaz-Canel reiterated that Cuba is willing to talk with the United States beyond specific exchanges on issues such as migration, drugs or the environment, but made it clear that it is not interested in offering a change to its socialist political model, the basis of Trump’s attacks.
“Under what conditions? Without pressure… in a position of equals and respect for our sovereignty, our independence,” he said.
While, The White House insisted yesterday that the United States and Cuba are in negotiations, and urged Havana to make “prudent” statements.
“As I have already reiterated, President (Donald) Trump always has a willingness to bet on diplomacy, and I think that is something that is in fact taking place with the Cuban government,” White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt explained yesterday in response to Díaz-Canel’s statements.
“I think that, given that the Cuban government is on its last legs and that the country is about to collapse, they should be cautious in their statements directed to the president of the United States,” the spokesperson added.
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