President Donald Trump revealed on Tuesday Cuba is seeking help from the United States as he departed for a high-stakes summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
The president’s announcement on U.S.-Cuba talks comes as the island nation continues to grapple with a severe economic and humanitarian crisis.
Trump has targeted Cuba since the U.S. military captured Nicolas Maduro, the former leader of its longtime ally Venezuela. The Trump administration has since imposed strict sanctions and energy blockades on Cuba, actions that have further crippled its already struggling economy.
Trump has described Cuba as a threat to U.S. national security and has threatened military action to force a change in government.
Meanwhile, China has called on Washington to immediately end its embargo and sanctions on Havana.