Cuba and US maintain channel of communication

Cuba and the United States have maintained “channels of communication” but are not engaged in any formal negotiations, Havana’s top diplomat in Washington told Reuters, as the Trump administration pursues a pressure campaign against the Communist-ruled island.



In an interview on Monday, Lianys Torres Rivera, chargé d’affaires at the embassy in Washington, said Cuba remains open to a “respectful” dialogue but is “not naive” about President Donald Trump’s threats and has increased preparations to defend itself against any US military action.



The latest US-Cuba diplomatic contacts have included meetings, phone calls and WhatsApp messages, but the two sides have made no progress toward a negotiating agenda or restarting official talks, she said.



Torres Rivera declined to provide details on the timing, topics and participants.



Her description of the communications appears to fall short of Trump’s assertion at the United Nations last month that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was “deep into negotiations” with Havana.



Trump also called Cuba a "failed state” and predicted its government would fall. The Cuban delegation walked out in protest.