CIA Director Ratcliffe Holds Talks in Havana Amid Escalating Fuel Crisis
A U.S. delegation led by CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Cuban officials at the Interior Ministry in Havana on Thursday, according to a statement from the Cuban government. The meeting comes as tensions mount over a U.S. fuel blockade that has severely restricted the island's access to fuel and electricity generation.
U.S. President Donald Trump, who has intensified pressure on Cuba since returning to office, recently stated that the two longtime adversaries were "going to talk." The Cuban delegation emphasized during the meeting that Cuba does not pose a threat to U.S. national security, the government 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 statement added.
The Cuban government did not disclose the names of its officials who participated in the meeting. The statement was released after a U.S. government plane was observed departing Havana's international airport on Thursday afternoon, as confirmed by a Reuters witness.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump has previously warned that Cuba "is next" following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, a longtime Cuban ally, by U.S. forces in January.
Earlier this year, officials from both countries acknowledged they were engaged in talks, but negotiations appeared to stall amid the ongoing U.S. fuel blockade. On Wednesday evening, widespread protests erupted across Havana as rolling blackouts in parts of the city lasted 24 hours or more, threatening frozen food supplies and making sleep nearly impossible for many residents.
