CIA director John Ratcliffe on May 14 delivered a message from U.S. President Donald Trump to top Cuban officials in Havana that the U.S. would “seriously engage” with the island´s government on economic and security issues “only if it makes fundamental changes,” Reuters reported, citing a CIA official.
Ratcliffe’s trip appeared to be only the second visit by a CIA director to Cuba since former leader Fidel Castro´s 1959 revolution, according to Reuters.
The CIA official, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, did not elaborate on the specific changes that Trump was demanding.
The U.S. has for decades demanded Cuba open its state-run economy, pay reparations for properties expropriated by the Castro government and hold “free and fair” elections.
Trump has increased pressure on Cuba, effectively imposing a fuel blockade on the island by threatening tariffs on countries supplying it with fuel, igniting seemingly endless power outages and delivering new blows to the island´s already ailing economy.
Cuba first disclosed Ratcliffe’s visit in a statement saying he held talks with his Cuban counterpart at the Interior Ministry in Havana.
“Both sides … underscored their interest in developing bilateral cooperation between law enforcement agencies in the interest of the security of both countries, as well as regional and international security,” the statement said.
Cuba’s representatives said the island does not pose a threat to U.S. national security, the statement said.
The statement was issued after a U.S. government plane was seen departing Havana’s international airport on Thursday afternoon, according to a Reuters witness.
Ratcliffe delivered “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 CIA official told Reuters.
The sides also discussed “intelligence cooperation, economic stability, and security issues, all against the backdrop that Cuba can no longer be a safe haven for adversaries in the Western Hemisphere,” the official added.
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