0:00
The Trump administration is quietly pressing for a leadership shakeup in Cuba
0:07
New York Times reports U.S. officials have told Cuban negotiators that President Miguel Diaz-Canel
0:14
needs to step aside if the two countries are to reach a broader agreement
0:19
According to people familiar with the talks, Washington is not trying to dismantle Cuba's
0:24
communist system, but wants Diaz-Canel removed as the public face of the government
0:29
while negotiations move forward. U.S. officials believe replacing him could open the door to economic changes
0:35
and potential deals with American businesses. Diaz-Canel has led Cuba since 2018
0:42
He was the first president since the 1959 revolution, whose last name was not Castro
0:48
Remember Fidel and Raul? The Castro family still holds major influence behind the scenes
0:54
The talks are happening while Cuba's economic and energy crisis continues to deepen
0:59
Officials say the country's entire electrical grid failed on Monday, plunging the island's roughly 11 million residents into darkness
1:08
It's the third nationwide blackout in just four months. Crews have restored limited power in parts of Havana and a handful of hospitals, but large areas of the island remain without reliable electricity
1:22
Fuel shortages are also worsening the crisis. Long lines have formed outside gas stations and tankers carrying fuel have been stuck at ports while the country scrambles to secure energy supplies
1:34
Diaz-Canel says Cuba has gone three months without oil shipments and blames the shortages on U.S. sanctions and an energy blockade
1:42
President Trump has suggested the United States could take a much bigger role in the island's future
1:48
saying this week he believes he could have the, quote, honor of taking Cuba
