Cuba Confirms Sensitive Talks with US After Grandson Offer

Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz has publicly confirmed that Havana is engaged in talks with representatives of the U.S. government, seeking to project unity after an interview with a member of the Castro family sparked rare public debate over the island's diplomatic strategy. The prime minister's statement on July 9 came days after Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson of former leader Raúl Castro, told a U.S. newspaper he was open to negotiating directly with President Donald Trump.

In a social media post, Marrero said conversations had been held with U.S. representatives aimed at seeking solutions to bilateral differences through dialogue. He described the channel as sensitive and asserted that the working team had the trust and mandate of President Miguel Díaz-Canel and the military leadership. Marrero insisted there were no internal divisions, framing the outreach as a coordinated government effort and warning against attempts to sow distrust.

The controversy stems from an interview published on July 7, in which Rodríguez Castro, a 42-year-old with no formal government post, stated he could negotiate with anyone designated by the U.S., including Trump if...