Overview
- CIA Director John Ratcliffe, who met senior Cuban officials in Havana on Thursday, delivered President Trump's message that the U.S. will engage on security and economic issues only if Cuba makes fundamental changes.
- The discussions covered intelligence cooperation, economic stability and security, with U.S. officials stressing that Cuba can no longer serve as a haven for U.S. adversaries in the region.
- The State Department offered $100 million in direct humanitarian aid to be distributed by the Catholic Church and other groups if Cuba permits it, and Cuba’s foreign minister said the government would review the details.
- Cuba’s energy minister said the island has run out of diesel and fuel oil, leading to blackouts of up to 20–22 hours, protests in Havana, food spoilage and delayed hospital care as the fuel crunch deepened.
- Cuba told the U.S. delegation it is not a threat to U.S. security and disputed its terrorism listing, while U.S. pressure has grown through tighter sanctions and actions that choked off Venezuelan oil; U.S. media also report prosecutors are weighing charges against Raúl Castro over a 1996 shootdown, adding a potential legal lever.