Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said on Thursday that US President Donald Trump assured him Washington has no intention of invading Cuba.
Speaking during a press conference at the Brazilian embassy in Washington, Lula said Trump told him directly during a meeting at the White House that he does not plan to order a military invasion of Cuba.
Lula described the statement as a positive signal amid ongoing tensions between Washington and Havana.
Cuba Seeking Dialogue and End to Decades-Long Blockade
According to Lula, Cuban officials remain open to dialogue and are seeking an end to the US blockade imposed on the island since the 1959 revolution.
Despite those remarks, the United States has recently intensified economic pressure on Cuba.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced a new round of sanctions targeting economic entities linked to the Cuban military, as well as joint mining companies operating in the country.
Rubio accused the targeted organisations of exploiting Cuba’s national resources in support of the government.
Canadian Mining Company Suspends Operations
Following the latest US sanctions, Canadian mining company Sherritt International announced the suspension of its operations in Cuba.
The company’s decision marks one of the first major economic responses to the newly imposed restrictions.
