CIA chief visits Cuba as US seeks ‘fundamental changes’

CIA Director John Ratcliffe met senior Cuban officials in Havana for high-level talks centred on security cooperation, economic stability, and bilateral relations amid Cuba’s worsening energy crisis.

According to Cuban authorities, both sides discussed improving dialogue between Washington and Havana, alongside regional and international security concerns.

The Cuban statement said: “Both sides also 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 US delegation reportedly delivered a message from US President Donald Trump during the meeting.

A CIA official told BBC’s US partner, CBS News, that the US is “prepared to seriously engage on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba makes fundamental changes”.

The delegation met “to personally deliver President Trump’s message”, the CIA official said.

“During the meeting, Director Ratcliffe and Cuban officials 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.

Fuel shortages linked to the ongoing US oil blockade have contributed to widespread blackouts, hospital disruption, and temporary school closures across Cuba.

Key developments:

The US renewed a $100m humanitarian aid offer for the Cuban people.

Last week, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said that Havana had rejected a previous US offer of humanitarian aid worth $100m (£74m), a claim Cuba denied.