Cuba says U.S. talks remain at standstill and announces U.N. debate on oil embargo

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said Cuba’s talks with the United States are at a standstill, announcing that Cuba will seek a debate at the United Nations focused on a U.S. oil embargo.

Rodriguez made the remarks Tuesday, according to The Washington Times, while outlining Cuba’s diplomatic approach amid continued tension with Washington over economic restrictions. He did not provide further details on the cause of the pause or the scope of any channels that remain open.

The Cuban official said the lack of progress comes despite recent moves by the island nation to adjust its economic model. Cuba has recently approved a series of free-market reforms, an effort that Rodriguez highlighted as part of the broader context for Cuba’s engagement with the United States.

The decision to pursue a U.N. debate on the oil embargo places the dispute in a multilateral forum, where Cuba can challenge or seek clarification of U.S. policy and rally support from other governments. The report did not specify which U.N. body will host the debate or what documents or draft language Cuba plans to submit.

The U.S. oil embargo has been a central element of Washington’s sanctions posture toward Cuba for years, and Cuba has repeatedly criticized it as harmful to ordinary consumers. In the statement described by The Washington Times, Cuba’s government linked the upcoming international focus to the stalled bilateral talks, suggesting the multilateral venue will be part of its next steps.

For Cuba, the reforms it recently adopted are aimed at changing how the economy operates, but Rodriguez’s comments indicate that economic policy changes have not translated into resumed U.S.-Cuba negotiations. For Washington, the report provides no new indication of whether U.S. officials plan to resume talks or adjust the embargo.

Rodriguez’s announcement means Cuba will likely continue to use international diplomacy to raise pressure and broaden scrutiny of the embargo, while also maintaining the formal position that bilateral negotiations with the United States are not currently moving forward. The timeline and specific U.N. agenda items were not detailed in the report.