U.S. ultimatum to Cuba sets deadline on prisoners

The United States set a two-week deadline for Cuba on April 10, 2026, calling for the release of prominent political prisoners, including dissident artists Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel Osorbo. Officials said the message was delivered during a secret meeting held in Cuba between a senior U.S. State Department delegation and Cuban government representatives.

According to the account of the meeting, the U.S. delegation also met Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, identified as the grandson of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro. The delegation told Cuban counterparts that Cuba’s economy is in decline and argued the government has a limited period to pursue reforms.

Officials said the U.S. side presented a package of proposals that combined connectivity, economic measures, and political demands. The delegation proposed introducing Starlink internet services and urged Havana to implement economic reforms aimed at drawing foreign investment. The U.S. also pressed Cuba to compensate Americans for confiscated property and to broaden political freedoms, according to the same account.

The State Department confirmed the Trump administration’s stated preference for a diplomatic resolution. At the same time, the department indicated that additional options are under consideration if Cuba does not comply with the request within the two-week timeframe.

After the meeting, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro reportedly sought to send a letter to the White House through a Cuban businessman, Roberto Carlos Chamizo González. Officials said Chamizo González was intercepted in Miami, disrupting the reported attempt to deliver the message.

The developments come amid rising friction between Washington and Havana. Officials said the Trump administration has tightened sanctions and oil shipments to Cuba, steps that have added pressure to an already strained bilateral relationship.

Separately, officials said military planning for a potential intervention has increased. A U.S. military surveillance drone was observed near Cuba on April 17, 2026, adding to the sense of escalation around the standoff.

Uncertainties remain around how Cuba will respond to the April 10 deadline and whether the diplomatic channel described by officials will continue. It is also unclear which “other options” are being weighed, beyond the measures already cited.