Cuba received a tranche of humanitarian aid from China this week as people there experienced severe hunger due to food shortages and economic crisis.

This, as the Trump administration maintains that the island poses a threat to the U.S. but says dialogue remains open.

So we'll be talking to that and we'll be working on it.

You know, we want something good for the

Cuban people. Having a failed state, 90 miles from our shores is a threat to the national

security of the United States. Earlier today, I spoke with Cuba's deputy foreign minister,

and in this exclusive interview, we discussed the dire situation there and what she says is Cuba's

right to defend itself.

Deputy Foreign Minister Josefina Vidal, welcome to the NewsHour.

Thank you so much for joining us.

It's my pleasure to be with you today.

You have said several times dialogue is key here.

Dialogue is what can bring our countries, the U.S. and Cuba, together.

Can you tell us, is there any dialogue going on right now between U.S. and Cuban officials?

When's the last time the two sides spoke?

The channel for dialogue is open.

We have always favored dialogue with the United States and with any other country,

because we see it as the only way for countries to discuss their differences and to look for a way to make progress in the bilateral relationship.

And we have reasons to have doubts about the seriousness of the United States side,

considering that in the midst of our conversations, our contacts,

the United States has continued to take measures, measures that affect Cuba and the Cuban people in a big way.

I want to ask you more about that impact in a moment, but when you say the channel is open, does that mean that you are currently involved in negotiations with the U.S. government?

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