In a apparent moves to assuage the Trump administration, Cuba has agreed to release 51 prisoners it described as a demonstration of “goodwill” following talks with the Vatican.
Although, the Cuban authority did not indicate whether they included political prisoners, but it clarified that they had all “served a significant portion of their sentences and have maintained good conduct while in prison”.
The development comes after Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel disclosed that US and Cuban officials were holding talks to find solutions to the two countries’ differences. He said no fuel had entered Cuba in three months.
Daily Intel Newspaper recalls that US President Donald Trump had on Monday warned that Cuba was in “deep trouble”, indicating that it could be his next target after the Iranian conflict.
Since returning to the White House, Trump has made clear his desire to change Cuba’s leadership. He has also threatened tariffs on goods imported into the US from any country that gives Cuba oil.
Havana relies heavily on imported fuel for its electricity and the US has seized a number of oil shipments bound for Cuba.
The US and Cuba have had strained relations since communist leader Fidel Castro overthrew a US-backed government in 1959. US sanctions and trade embargoes on Cuba have been in place since the early 1960s.
The island nation is just 90 miles (145 km) south of Florida. Given the proximity, many Cubans who do not identify with Havana’s politics emigrate to the US, which is one of the reasons why Miami has such a large Cuban-American demographic.
Detailing the forthcoming prisoner release, Cuba’s foreign ministry said that since 2010 Havana has pardoned 9,905 prisoners.
Over the last three years, the ministry added, another 10,000 people who had been imprisoned were released “through various other forms of relief”. The government said the decision was “sovereign” and in line with the upcoming Holy Week in the Christian calendar.
News of the release comes weeks after Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez met Pope Leo in the Vatican.
Daily Intel with BBC Report
