Cuba Signals Openness to Talks with Trump

Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson of former Cuban President Raúl Castro, has said he is willing to negotiate with US President Donald Trump. In an interview with USA Today, he said he was prepared to hold talks with anyone appointed by the United States, including Trump.

He also said that Cuba would be willing to release political prisoners under the right conditions.

The remarks come as relations between Havana and Washington continue to deteriorate. In May, the United States announced murder charges against Raúl Castro, further escalating tensions between the longtime Cold War rivals. The move came as Trump continued to pursue regime change in Cuba, where the Communist Party has remained in power since Fidel Castro's revolution in 1959.

Also in May, Cuba published the names of thousands of prisoners granted their freedom under a decree issued the previous month. The releases took place during negotiations with the United States over several contentious issues, including the status of political prisoners.

The April decree granted a full and unconditional pardon to a large number of prisoners. The Cuban government described the measure as a humanitarian gesture and an expression of national sovereignty.

(Reuters, bak)