State Department, Cuban Regime Confirm 'Secret' Talks in Havana

PJ Media ^ | 04/20/2026 | Sarah Anderson

[SeekAndFind]

On April 10, something happened in Cuba that hasn't happened in a decade: a U.S. government plane touched down outside of Guantánamo Bay.   

We have confirmation of this from the Cuban regime via their official Communist Party propaganda newspaper, Granma. Several media outlets, including Fox News, CNN, and the Miami Herald, are also confirming it, based on statements from unnamed senior State Department officials.  

The State Department delegation — supposedly made up of assistant or deputy-level officials but not Marco Rubio himself  — reportedly warned the Cuban regime that it has a very short window in which to make a deal, which supposedly includes releasing political prisoners and making major economic and political reforms.  

"As President [Donald] Trump has stated, a new dawn for Cuba is coming very soon. The Cuban regime should stop playing games as direct talks are occurring. They have a small window to make a deal," a State Department official told the Miami Herald. 

Some outlets are reporting that the talks included compensation for U.S. citizens and companies whose properties were confiscated after the 1959 revolution, allowing Elon Musk's Starlink into Cuba (it's currently illegal to use there), and discussion of the threat of foreign military and terrorist groups being allowed to operate freely in the island nation. 

Allegedly, a separate meeting was held with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, Raúl Castro's grandson who goes by "Raulito" or "El Cangrejo" (the crab). While Rubio has never confirmed it that I'm aware of, some media outlets report that this is not the first time a team from the State Department has met with the younger Castro. 

And, of course, the Cuban regime tells a different story.

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TOPICS: Cuba; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: cuba; letsmakeadeal; marcorubio

[SeekAndFind]

Deputy Director General for U.S. Affairs Alejandro García del Toro told Granma that the meeting was "respectful and professional," but denies that were any conditions, like political prisoners, or deadlines set by the United States. He also called it a "delicate matter" that is being handled "discreetly."

[DIRTYSECRET]

We need an uprising there. Embarrass all communists worldwide. The left too. Put the Miami Sound Machine back together.

[frank ballenger]

“Secret”....

Man outside the building, hawking.

“Programas, consigan sus programas para las charlas secretas. No podrán seguir el ritmo sin un programa.”

“Programs, get your programs for the secret talks. You can’t keep up without a program.”

[cpdiii]

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg was a leftist and skilled jurist. She never violated the decorum of the Supreme Court and oddly was a dear friend of Justice Scalia who was a conservative and great legal mind as was Ginsberg. I miss them both oddly even Ginsberg.

[Nateman]

Cuba won’t be able to laugh at the threat. Venezuela showed what happens when you laugh at a Trump deal .