US delegation pushes Cuba for reforms as Trump escalates pressure

An unusually high-level U.S. delegation visited Cuba, pressing Havana to pursue key US-backed reforms, discuss private-sector growth, and consider Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite internet; they also floated compensation for confiscated assets and urged the release of political prisoners and greater political freedoms. Cuban officials described the talks as respectful, but Diaz-Canel warned against any invasion while reaffirming resistance to the blockade. The visit occurs as Trump hawks a tougher line and Washington says there has been no policy change, even as Cuba’s economy remains strained and a Russian-flagged tanker briefly entered Cuban waters.