Cuba is indicating a possible shift in its long-standing dispute with the United States, with officials suggesting the government may consider compensating Americans and U.S. companies whose properties were confiscated following the Cuban Revolution.
The remarks, made by Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío, point to the potential for a lump-sum compensation arrangement covering certified claims tied to nationalizations carried out in the early years of the revolutionary government.
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The proposal, however, has been met with skepticism, particularly among Cuban American communities in South Florida, where questions remain over its feasibility and scope.
Miami-based attorney Nick Gutierrez, who represents numerous claimants, said nearly 6,000 U.S. entities could be affected if such a plan were implemented.
“i represent about 1,000 families and companies that lost their properties in cuba,” he noted, while raising concerns about how any compensation would be financed.
“if it’s true… they’re hoping to get american money with which to compensate the 5,913 american companies that were initially confiscated,” he added.
The claims largely involve U.S. corporations and individuals who held American citizenship at the time their assets were seized. However, the apparent exclusion of Cuban nationals who later became U.S. citizens has drawn criticism.
Orlando Gutiérrez, president of the Assembly of Cuban Resistance, dismissed the proposal as inadequate.
“that’s ridiculous,” he said, arguing the move may be part of a broader negotiating strategy linked to calls for lifting the decades-old U.S. embargo.
“they say, ‘we’ll pay for the american companies whose property we stole with a lump sum payment, but you have to lift the embargo first,’” he stated. “and then from that money… they subtract whatever you owe us.”
Estimates suggest the total value of certified claims could range between $9 billion and $10 billion, underscoring the scale of the issue.
Despite the potential breakthrough, uncertainty remains high. Gutierrez cautioned against premature optimism, stating, “i think u.s. pressure is working,” but warned that Washington should be careful in its approach to negotiations.
“the u.s. shouldn’t fall into the trap of dealing with the same people that have caused all the problems with property confiscations and systematic human rights violations throughout the decades,” he said.
There has been no formal response from the administration of Donald J. Trump, and Marco Rubio has yet to publicly comment on the matter.
For now, the prospect of compensation remains uncertain, with key questions surrounding eligibility, funding mechanisms, and whether any agreement would require significant political concessions between the two nations.
