CIA director John Ratcliffe had a significant meeting with Cuban officials, including Raúl Castro’s grandson, during a high-profile visit to the island on Thursday, according to both Cuban and U.S. authorities. The meeting involved discussions on intelligence collaboration, economic stability, and security matters. A CIA representative confirmed these engagements to The Associated Press.
The purpose of Ratcliffe’s visit was to deliver a message from President Donald Trump indicating that the United States is willing to engage seriously on economic and security concerns with Cuba, contingent upon the island making substantial changes. Cuba’s government released an official statement highlighting the complexities of their bilateral relations during the meeting.
While emphasizing that Cuba should no longer serve as a safe harbor for adversaries in the Western Hemisphere, the U.S. delegation expressed concerns. In contrast, Cuban officials maintained that the island poses no threat to U.S. security and raised objections to its continual inclusion on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Previously, Rodríguez Castro had a clandestine meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a Caribbean Community summit in St. Kitts in February. Although he has never held an official government role, Rodríguez Castro served as his grandfather’s bodyguard and later as the head of Cuba’s equivalent of the Secret Service.
Earlier this year, U.S. and Cuban representatives had already convened in Cuba. These ongoing dialogues between the two countries marked the first time U.S. government flights landed in Cuba, other than at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, since 2016.
The recent meeting occurred as tensions simmer between the U.S. and Cuba, exacerbated by the U.S. energy embargo on the Caribbean nation. Cuba has experienced a collapse of its power grid, leading to energy cuts in the eastern provinces. The fuel blockade has exacerbated Cuba’s economic challenges, resulting in reduced work hours and food spoilage due to refrigeration issues.
The U.S. State Department reiterated its commitment to offer $100 million in humanitarian aid to Cuba and support for satellite internet, contingent upon approval from the Cuban regime. President Donald Trump had previously threatened tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, hinting at potential intervention. However, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel expressed readiness to defend his country if necessary, although sources suggest that imminent military action is unlikely.