Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Apr 21: The United States has given Cuba a two-week deadline to release high-profile political prisoners as part of broader demands for economic and political reforms, according to reports.

The ultimatum was conveyed during a secret meeting held on April 10 in Havana, where US officials pressed for the release of prominent dissidents, including Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel Osorbo, both associated with the San Isidro movement and imprisoned since 2022.

A US State Department spokesperson said the administration remains committed to securing the release of all political prisoners and described the demand as a “gesture of good faith” amid ongoing direct talks between the two countries.

The development comes as part of a renewed diplomatic push by the administration of Donald Trump, which is seeking sweeping reforms in Cuba, including greater political freedoms, compensation for seized American assets, and measures to make the island’s economy more open to foreign investment.

A senior US delegation visited Havana for the talks — marking the first time since 2016 that a US government plane landed in Cuba — and held meetings with Cuban officials as well as backchannel discussions with figures linked to former leader Raúl Castro’s family.

During the discussions, the US also proposed expanding access to high-speed internet through Starlink services, while warning that Cuba’s economy is in severe decline and that its leadership has only a limited window to implement reforms.

Tensions between Washington and Havana have escalated in recent weeks, with the US tightening sanctions and increasing pressure on the Communist-run island, which is already grappling with a deep economic crisis.

Cuba recently announced the release of more than 2,000 prisoners as a “humanitarian gesture,” but rights groups say political detainees were largely excluded, keeping the issue at the centre of US demands.

Reports also suggest that contingency planning is underway in Washington for potential escalation, including military options, though officials maintain that a diplomatic solution remains the preferred path.

The situation continues to evolve, with both sides engaged in sensitive negotiations that could significantly impact US-Cuba relations in the coming weeks.