CUBA AND U.S HOLD HIGH-LEVEL TALKS AFTER TRUMP PREDICTS REGIME COLLAPSE. (PHOTO).

 Cuba and US hold high-level talks after Trump predicts regime collapse

Cuba’s president, Miquel Díaz-Canel, publicly confirmed Friday that his government has been holding talks with the United States, a rare acknowledgment amid rising pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration. Speaking on national television, Díaz-Canel said the discussions were “in their first phase,” with officials from both countries working to “establish an agenda” and stressed the goal of avoiding speculation about the process.

The Trump administration has escalated pressure on Havana, including an effective fuel blockade since late January that has deepened Cuba’s energy crisis, leaving the island without shipments for over three months. President Trump has charged Secretary of State Marco Rubio with leading the negotiations, predicting that the Cuban regime “is going to fall pretty soon” and signaling openness to a “friendly takeover,” though he has not ruled out military intervention. Rubio has emphasized the potential for incremental change, noting that Cuba “needs to change” gradually rather than all at once. Experts suggest a more measured approach could prevail, with stability and a managed transition likely priorities. Analysts also note that a Vatican-mediated process, which has historically facilitated U.S.-Cuba cooperation, could help build trust, ensure verifiable agreements, and prevent the Cuban population from being caught in the middle of the negotiations.