Cuba's Foreign Minister Says No Negotiations Despite 'Genocidal' Blockade

By Ayose NaranjoHAVANA, Sept 7 (Reuters) - Cuba's top diplomat ⁠said ⁠on Monday there are no ⁠talks underway with the United States, nor were there any ​plans for future negotiations, amid a "genocidal" blockade that Cuba says has cost the island nation ‌over $8 billion in economic damages in ‌the last year."There are no negotiations or agendas, although a willingness to stay ⁠in contact ⁠remains despite the lack of progress," Cuba's foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez, ​told reporters at a press conference in Havana.Rodriguez said that damages caused by the decades-old U.S. trade embargo against Cuba had jumped 7 percent in 2025 versus the previous year, to $8.1 ​billion.Cuba's foreign minister said the financial hit to Cuba`s economy would balloon in the ⁠first ⁠months of 2026, after ⁠the Trump ​administration imposed an oil blockade on the island that has all but decimated output ​and led to nationwide blackouts ⁠that now span days.'The blockade doesn't punish the government, it punishes every person (on the island) in every way," Cuba`s top diplomat said. "It means long months spent living with only 2 or 3 hours of electricity a day or less, food spoiling, heat ⁠that makes it impossible to sleep, children doing their homework in near darkness.'The ⁠U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Rodriguez's remarks.The U.S., which regards the Cuban government as presenting national security concerns, has previously said the blockade and stepped-up sanctions are necessary to force a change to the communist-run government, which the Trump administration accuses of limiting Cuban's economic and human rights.The United Nations has called the Trump sanctions and energy siege a violation of international law. A team of U.N. experts ⁠in August warned of a growing risk of disease outbreaks on the island as the U.S. has tightened sanctions.The U.S. also warned recently in a health alert of a spike in intestinal illnesses and diarrhea caused by failing ​water and electricity supply on the island.(Reporting by Ayose Naranjo; Writing ​by Dave Sherwood; Editing by Edmund Klamann)Copyright 2026 Thomson Reuters.