A flurry of statements from President Trump, media leaks, and reported scoops point to a dizzying degree of bilateral, behind-the-scenes activity—without much discernible progress to show for it, at least not yet. Recent reports indicate that a high-level U.S. State Department delegation met with Cuban counterparts in Havana, where American officials stressed a narrow window for Cuba to deliver tangible signs of goodwill. Those signs, as reported, include the release of high-profile political prisoners, authorization for Starlink to provide internet connectivity, and meaningful steps toward deeper economic and political reform.

The prospect of some form of military intervention has also grown, with the Pentagon reportedly ramping up contingency planning for potential military action against Cuba, according to USA TODAY. That reporting would be consistent with increasingly bellicose rhetoric from President Trump and with recent precedents of U.S. military action, most notably in Venezuela and against Iranian-linked targets. Whether the Pentagon’s planning represents genuine preparation or a pressure tactic in ongoing negotiations is, for now, unclear.

Meanwhile, formal and informal economic ties between the two countries continue to expand, driven by private sector activity and remittances. On the corporate front, Spain’s Iberia airline has suspended service to Cuba citing declining demand, while Russia has secured concessions to manage a number of state-owned light manufacturing facilities.

We cover all this and more in this week’s Cuba Review.