President Donald Trump's options on Cuba — from a military operation to an economic deal to doing nothing at all — are politically fraught.

A senior figure in Cuba's ruling establishment, Raúl Castro's grandson and close aide Raúl Rodríguez Castro, reportedly arranged for a letter to be hand-delivered directly to President Trump last week,

“We don’t mind having somebody get a boatload, because they need — they have to survive,” Trump said aboard Air Force One on the evening of March 29. “I told them: if a country wants to send some oil to Cuba right now, I have no problem with it ...

President Donald Trump speaks during an event in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) President Donald Trump speaks during an event in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in ...

In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Miguel Díaz-Canel stressed the need for dialogue but said Cuba is prepared to defend itself.

The comments come in the wake of news that U.S. and Cuban officials have met to discuss future relations between the two longtime Cold War foes.

A senior US delegation met with Cuban government officials in Cuba as the Trump administration ramps up its efforts to pressure Havana into a deal as it continues to exert its economic chokehold on the island.

President Trump said on Sunday his representatives would be heading to the capital of Pakistan and would arrive Monday evening in Islamabad for a new round of peace talks with Iran. Vice President JD Vance,