
(Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images)
A general view of El Capitolio and the Havana skyline on December 16, 2014, in Havana, Cuba.
A recent unannounced U.S. diplomatic visit to Cuba suggests the potential for a near-term deal that reduces tensions, though a U.S. military and/or law enforcement operation remains possible as Washington sustains pressure on Havana amid ongoing divergences in negotiations. On April 17, Axios reported that U.S. State Department personnel traveled to Havana on April 10 for previously unannounced talks with central Cuban political figures, marking the first time a U.S. government plane landed in Cuba since 2016. During the talks, U.S. officials reportedly said that the White House was open to a diplomatic solution to ease bilateral tensions, but warned it would not tolerate resistance to its demands.