CIA Director John Ratcliffe delivered a message from President Donald Trump to senior Cuban officials in Havana, saying the United States was prepared to engage seriously on economic and security matters only if Cuba agreed to make “fundamental changes,” a CIA official told Reuters.
Ratcliffe’s trip appeared to mark the first known visit by a CIA director to Cuba since the communist revolution of 1953, highlighting an unusual moment of direct high-level contact between the longtime rivals. The CIA official, speaking anonymously, did not specify the exact reforms being demanded by Trump.
The visit came as tensions between Washington and Havana continue to escalate.
Since returning to office, Trump has intensified pressure on Cuba by effectively enforcing a fuel blockade against the island through threats of sanctions on countries supplying fuel to Havana. The measures have deepened Cuba’s energy crisis, triggering widespread blackouts and worsening economic conditions.
Large protests erupted across Havana on Wednesday night as power outages in some areas stretched beyond 24 hours, threatening food storage supplies and leaving many residents unable to sleep.
Cuba’s Energy and Mines Minister said the country had exhausted its diesel and fuel oil reserves and described the national electricity grid as being in a “critical” condition.
The White House referred questions regarding Ratcliffe’s visit to the CIA.
Cuba first announced the trip in a statement confirming that Ratcliffe met officials from the Interior Ministry in Havana, though it did not initially identify those involved in the talks.
“Both sides highlighted their interest in strengthening bilateral cooperation between law enforcement agencies in the interest of the security of both nations, as well as regional and international security,” the Cuban statement said.
Cuban representatives also told the American delegation that the island does not pose a threat to U.S. national security.
The statement was released shortly after a U.S. government aircraft was seen departing Havana’s international airport on Thursday afternoon, according to a Reuters witness.
The CIA official later said Ratcliffe met Raulito Rodriguez Castro, Interior Minister Lazaro Alvarez Casas, and the head of Cuba’s intelligence services.
Ratcliffe conveyed “Trump’s message that the United States is prepared to seriously engage on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba makes fundamental changes,” the official said.
According to the official, the discussions also covered intelligence cooperation, economic stability, and regional security concerns, with Washington stressing that Cuba could no longer serve as a safe haven for adversaries operating in the Western Hemisphere.
The official did not specify which adversaries were being referenced.
Ratcliffe aimed to open substantial discussions on the steps Havana would need to take to establish a more productive relationship with Washington, the official added.
The CIA representative compared the current situation to developments in Venezuela, where tensions with Washington shifted toward cautious cooperation following a U.S. military operation in January that removed President Nicolas Maduro from power and transferred him to the United States to face narcotics trafficking charges.
Maduro has denied the accusations.
Cuba faces growing pressure amid economic collapse
The official said Cuba had a rare opportunity to stabilise its struggling economy, but warned that the window to improve conditions for nearly 10 million citizens would not remain open indefinitely.
Trump has repeatedly warned that Cuba “is next” following developments in Venezuela.
Officials from both countries had earlier acknowledged ongoing negotiations this year, though talks appeared to stall amid the continuing U.S. fuel blockade.
Ratcliffe also visited Venezuela after the operation that removed Maduro from office.
Reuters previously reported that he held meetings with interim Venezuelan President Delay Rodriguez to discuss the Trump administration’s interest in future cooperation.
