CIA Director John Ratcliffe arrived in Havana to personally convey to the Cuban authorities a message from American leader Donald Trump that Washington is ready to seriously discuss economic and security issues only if there are “fundamental changes” on the island, NBC reported, citing an unnamed CIA representative.
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The Cuban government earlier announced that Ratcliffe visited Havana on Thursday at the head of the American delegation and held a meeting with representatives of the Cuban Interior Ministry. The Cuban authorities noted that the meeting took place “in a context characterized by the complexity of bilateral relations” and was aimed at facilitating political dialogue between the two countries.
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“(Ratcliffe came to Cuba) to personally convey Trump’s message that the United States is ready to cooperate seriously on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba makes fundamental changes,” the TV channel quoted a CIA representative as saying.
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He also added that Ratcliffe had met with Cuba’s Interior minister, the head of the Cuban intelligence service, and the grandson of former President Raul Castroraul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro.
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Trump said last week that the United States would “take care” of Cuba, without specifying the details of its plans. Later, CNN reported that the US military had significantly increased the number of reconnaissance flights off the coast of the island since February.
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On January 29, the US president signed a decree allowing the imposition of duties on imports from countries supplying oil to Cuba, and also declared a state of emergency in connection with the alleged Cuban threat to US national security. This measure has worsened fuel shortages on the island, affecting electricity generation, transport, food production, healthcare and education.
