Among the verdant gardens of Havana's diplomatic quarter, Siboney, ambassadors from countries traditionally allied to the United States are expressing increasing frustration with Washington's attempt to unseat Cuba's government, while simultaneously drawing up plans to draw down their missions. Cuba is in crisis. Already reeling from a four-year economic slump, worsened by hyper-inflation and the migration of nearly 20% of the population, the 67-year-old communist government is at its weakest. After Washington's successful military operation against Cuba's ally Venezuela at the beginning of January, the US administration is actively seeking regime change.
The Guardian spoke to more than five top-level officials from different countries, and heard complaints that the US charge d'affaires, Mike Hammer, has failed to share any sort of detailed plan beyond bringing the island to a standstill by starving it of oil. One said: "There's talk of human rights, and that this is the year Cuba changes--but little talk of what happens afterwards."
Some hope that rumoured high-level discussions in Mexico between the Cuban government--in the form of Gen Alejandro Castro Espn, son of Cuba's 94-year-old former president Ral Castro--and US officials might produce a deal, but as yet there are no signs of progress.
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