Bruno Rodríguez confirms U.S. talks on sanctions and Cuba's blackouts

Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla told NBC’s Andrea Mitchell on Tuesday that Cuba is in informal talks with the United States following President Trump’s recent United Nations address, and he also raised concerns about nationwide blackouts.

Trump’s UN speech criticized Cuba’s human‑rights record and called for stronger sanctions, reviving tensions after the Obama‑era thaw that began in 2014 and ended in 2017. Since then, Cuba’s economy has faltered, hit by the pandemic, U.S. sanctions and internal unrest. The blackouts have been linked to an aging power grid and chronic fuel shortages.

Parrilla said the discussions are “confidential but constructive,” focusing on easing some sanctions and improving electricity supply. He denied any formal agreement, emphasizing that talks are at a diplomatic level, not a public negotiation. A State Department spokesperson said Washington is open to dialogue but any concession will be tied to human‑rights improvements. Cuban dissidents warned the talks could be a smokescreen for repression, while economists noted that even modest relief could stabilize the economy.

If talks progress, they could lead to limited lifting of restrictions on remittances, travel and agricultural imports, which would ease shortages and potentially reduce blackouts. However, any breakthrough will depend on U.S. domestic politics and Cuba’s willingness to address rights concerns. Observers say the next weeks will reveal whether both sides can move beyond rhetoric toward concrete steps, a shift that could reshape Caribbean geopolitics and impact millions of Cubans struggling with power cuts and scarcity.