US officials press Cubans for reforms at Havana meeting

U.S. officials met this month with their Cuban counterparts in Havana, officials from both countries said on Monday, as Washington pushes for reforms of Cuba's state-led economy amid an energy crisis and a U.S. blockade on oil shipments to the island.



A U.S. State Department official confirmed that the meeting took place on April 10 for talks overseen by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, without detailing which officials took part in the talks. The meeting was first reported by Axios.



"The delegation reiterated that the Cuban economy is in free fall and that the island’s ruling elites have a small window to make key U.S.-backed reforms before circumstances irreversibly worsen," the official said in comments shared on condition of anonymity.