Cuba’s government has confirmed it recently hosted U.S. officials on the island, marking the first time senior American diplomats have visited the island nation since 2016. Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Alejandro García del Toro said lifting the U.S. oil blockade was “a top priority,” calling it “an unjustified punishment of the entire Cuban population.” The talks come as President Trump has repeatedly floated the use of military force against Cuba, saying his attention could turn to the island after the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran. Last week, Trump said, “We may stop by Cuba after we finish with this.”

Meanwhile, the leaders of Mexico, Brazil and Spain, meeting in Barcelona as part of a gathering of progressive heads of state, issued a joint statement pledging increased humanitarian aid to Cuba and calling for its sovereignty to be respected.