Cuba claimed on Thursday (13th) that El Talk, an independent website that publishes daily dollar prices on the parallel market, is manipulating the unofficial exchange rate to stoke unrest at a time when the freely depreciating peso is driving up prices in Cuba.
Cuba called the exchange rate calculated and published in real time by El Toque a “travesty.” The benchmark interest rate has fluctuated dramatically in recent weeks, but is again near all-time highs, wiping out the purchasing power of most Cubans in a rapidly dollarizing economy.
Citing documents released in the United States, the Cuban government claimed that El Toque and its editor-in-chief, José Jasan Nieves, were funded by the United States and “profited from destabilizing Cuba.”
Jasan Nieves told Reuters in a written response that El Toque received grants from the U.S. State Department to “facilitate access to information in Cuba and support the implementation of the public diplomacy program by the U.S. Embassy in Havana.”
But he denied that the funding had any impact on vehicle publications, pointing out that the site also receives funding from private donors, companies, foundations and European organizations.
“None of these relationships impact our editorial line,” Jasan said.
He denied Cuba’s claims that the group has “subversive” intentions or promotes mercenary or terrorist-related activities.
A US State Department spokesperson called Cuba’s claims “ridiculous” and claimed the Cuban government was “trying to divert attention from its incompetent and failed economic policies.”
Independent observers say Cuba’s economic problems stem from a decades-long U.S. embargo, poor state-run economic management and an unrealistic official exchange rate.
President Donald Trump’s administration this year expressed concerns about funding for U.S. news organizations and cut funding to many Cuban news organizations. In March, El Tok announced that 50% of the 2025 budget was affected by these cuts and asked readers to donate.
Some U.S. funding for Cuba-related media was later resumed.
About The Author
