The CIA Director, John Ratcliffe, engaged in discussions with prominent Cuban figures in Havana this past Thursday, according to an official from the CIA. This unannounced visit occurs during a period of exceptional strain between the two nations.
“On this day, Director Ratcliffe convened with Cuban representatives, including Raulito Rodriguez Castro, Minister of Interior Lazaro Alvarez Casas, and the head of Cuban intelligence in Havana. He personally conveyed President Trump’s declaration that the United States stands ready to genuinely address economic and security matters, conditional on Cuba instituting foundational changes,” expressed a CIA representative in a released statement.
During the course of the gathering, Director Ratcliffe and the Cuban representatives deliberated on intelligence collaboration, economic fortification, and safety — "all while underscoring that Cuba can no longer serve as a secure location for rivals in the Western Hemisphere," the representative indicated.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe meets with top Cuban officials in Havana.CIA
In a declaration broadcasted on air by the state broadcaster, the Cuban government validated the meeting, stating it was requested by the U.S.
"The details offered by the Cuban party and the conversations conducted with the U.S. delegation enabled a conclusive demonstration that Cuba poses no hazard to U.S. national security, nor are there justifiable grounds for its inclusion on the roster of countries purportedly sponsoring terrorism," the Cuban government communicated in their declaration.
Spurred on by the U.S. operation that resulted in the capture of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro earlier in the year, President Donald Trump has been increasingly prioritizing a maximal pressure strategy on Cuba, cautioning about impending measures for several months.
In recent times, Trump has stated that Cuba's political structure requires "significant" alterations and has continuously proclaimed that the U.S. will be "undertaking action with Cuba imminently."
Earlier this month, while giving remarks in Florida the prior week, Trump indicated that subsequent to the endeavor in Iran, "Cuba is slated to be next," and the U.S. will be "assuming control of Cuba nearly instantly."
Thus far, the administration has employed economic strategies to apply duress on Cuba. Back in January, Trump unveiled a scheme to enforce supplementary tariffs on nations supplying oil to Cuba, asserting a national security predicament concerning the island nation.
People look at a barricade set up by residents protesting against prolonged power outages in Havana, Cuba, Wednesday, May 13, 2026.Ramon Espinosa/AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa
The obstruction, impeding Havana's entry to external oil shipments, has exacerbated an energy shortfall on the island, steering the country's power infrastructure towards breakdown, accompanied by widespread power outages.
On Thursday, amidst the latest electrical malfunction, Cuban Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy characterized the state of the national electrical grid as "critical" and conveyed, "We have an utter absence of fuel; we have a complete absence of diesel."
Earlier this month, the Trump administration initiated fresh penalties aimed at members of the regime who the White House indicated were "complicit in governmental misconduct or grave human rights infringements, or are representatives, authorities, or substantial advocates of the Cuban government,” as detailed in a fact sheet released by the White House.
In a discussion with ABC News the preceding week, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez cautioned that the U.S. was embarked on a "perilous course" potentially culminating in a "bloody conflict in Cuba" in response to Trump's sustained pronouncements regarding assuming control of the country, and conveyed that there had been "no advancement" in discussions between the two countries.
Sourse: abcnews.go.com