Ratcliffe delivers – CIA Director John Ratcliffe met senior Cuban officials in Havana to deliver President Donald Trump’s message: the United States is ready to engage on economic and security issues only if Cuba makes fundamental changes, as tensions rise amid Trump’s warnings of
When CIA Director John Ratcliffe arrived for a surprise meeting in Havana on Thursday, the gesture landed in the middle of an escalating standoff between Washington and Cuba.
Ratcliffe met with Cuban officials including Raulito Rodriguez Castro. Minister of Interior Lazaro Alvarez Casas. and the head of Cuban intelligence services in Havana. a CIA official said.. The visit was described as a personal delivery of President Donald Trump’s message: the United States is prepared to seriously engage on economic and security issues. but only if Cuba makes fundamental changes.
During the talks, Ratcliffe and his Cuban counterparts discussed intelligence cooperation, economic stability and security, the CIA official said.. The meeting was held. the official added. “against the backdrop” of the claim that Cuba can no longer be “a safe haven for adversaries in the Western Hemisphere.”
Cuban officials confirmed the encounter on state broadcaster air and said the meeting was requested by the United States.
“The information provided by the Cuban side and the discussions held with the U.S.. delegation made it possible to categorically demonstrate that Cuba does not constitute a threat to U.S.. national security. nor are there legitimate reasons to include it on the list of countries that allegedly sponsor terrorism. ” the Cuban government said in its statement.
The meeting comes as Trump’s Cuba policy has leaned harder into pressure and warning.. After a U.S.. raid earlier this year that led to the capture of ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Trump has increasingly focused on a maximum pressure campaign against Cuba. warning for months that action could be imminent.
In recent weeks. Trump has said Cuba’s political system needs to change “dramatically” and has repeatedly declared that the U.S.. will be “doing something with Cuba very soon.” Earlier this month. speaking in Florida. he told an audience that after the Iran operation. “Cuba is going to be next. ” and said the U.S.. would be “taking over Cuba almost immediately.”
So far, the administration has relied on economic tactics.. In January. Trump announced a plan to impose additional tariffs on countries that provide oil to Cuba. declaring a national security emergency regarding the island nation.. The resulting blockade. which has cut Havana’s access to foreign oil shipments. has deepened an energy crisis and pushed the power grid near collapse. triggering massive blackouts.
On Thursday, amid another power failure, Cuban Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy called the national electrical system “critical” and said, “We have absolutely no fuel; we have absolutely no diesel.”
The administration has also tightened financial pressure on the regime.. Earlier this month. it imposed new sanctions aimed at members of the government whom the White House said were “complicit in government corruption or serious human rights violations. or are agents. officials. or material supporters of the Cuban government. ” according to a fact sheet published by the White House.
Cuba’s top diplomats are pushing back on the U.S. rhetoric. In an interview with ABC News last week, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez warned the U.S. was on a “dangerous path” that could lead to a “bloodbath in Cuba” and said there had been “no progress” in talks between the two countries.
CIA John Ratcliffe Havana Cuba Trump United States Lazaro Alvarez Casas Raulito Rodriguez Castro Cuban intelligence sanctions tariffs energy crisis national security emergency Bruno Rodriguez