During negotiations in Havana, the US delegation gave Cuban authorities two weeks to release prominent political prisoners, according to reports.
US Issues Ultimatum to Cuba
The US delegation, during recent negotiations in Havana, issued a two-week ultimatum to Cuban authorities for the release of several well-known political prisoners, as reported by USA Today, citing anonymous sources.
These talks occurred amid escalating US pressure on the communist government in Havana, including a halt to oil deliveries and a threat of potential military intervention by President Donald Trump.
Prisoner Release as a Condition for Reform
The release of prisoners is intended as a gesture of goodwill and is part of broader US demands for economic and political reforms on the island, according to the American newspaper.
Individuals on the list facing the ultimatum include rapper Maykel Osorbo and artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara, members of the dissident San Isidro Movement, who have been imprisoned since 2021.
US Administration Seeks Full Release
A spokesperson for the US Department of State told USA Today that the Trump administration is seeking the release of all political prisoners in Cuba, adding that Trump believes change is coming to the island and its government has limited time to reach an agreement.
First High-Level Visit in Years
The negotiations, which took place on April 10th in Havana, were first reported by Axios last week. This marked the first landing of a US government aircraft in Cuba since then-President Barack Obama’s historic visit in 2016.
Cuban Denial of Threats
Alejandro Garcia del Toro, a representative of the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed the talks took place on Monday but denied any threats or ultimatums were issued by either side.
Economic Crisis in Cuba
Cuba is experiencing a deepening economic crisis and humanitarian situation, with shortages of fuel, food, and essential goods, exacerbated by a US oil embargo following the armed intervention in Venezuela in January, which resulted in the capture and removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro to the US.
