Cuba denies contacts with the United States over Venezuela's future

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Top law enforcement officials in Cuba said last week the island was prioritizing the fight against narcotics trafficking in the Caribbean and continued to provide information to the US Coast Guard.

Vidal told the Associated Press that "warlike sectors" of the United States were conducting a smear campaign designed to create a rift between Cuba and Venezuela and provide a pretext for US aggression in the region.

"Cuba rejects attempts to tarnish its clean record of fighting for peace in Latin America and the Caribbean and against drug trafficking," Vidal said.

(Reporting by Dave Sherwood; Editing by Daniel Wallis)