Trending Now - CIA Chief Ratcliffe: Cuba's Safe Haven Status is Over

WHO:

NPR - CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson of Raúl Castro, Interior Minister Lázaro Álvarez Casas, and the head of Cuban intelligence services.

NPR - U.S. officials involved include CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

WHAT:

NPR - Ratcliffe's visit included discussions on intelligence cooperation, economic stability, and security issues.

NPR - The U.S. is prepared to engage on economic and security issues with Cuba if fundamental changes are made.

NPR - The U.S. will provide Cuba with $100 million in humanitarian assistance and support for satellite internet if permitted by the Cuban regime.

NPR - Trump threatened tariffs on any country that sells or supplies oil to Cuba.

WHERE:

NPR - The meetings took place in Havana, Cuba.

NPR - The U.S. government flights to Cuba marked the first landings other than at the U.S. Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay since 2016.

WHEN:

NPR - The meetings occurred on a Thursday, with no specific date provided.

NPR - Rodríguez Castro previously met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in February during a Caribbean Community summit in St. Kitts.

NPR - Earlier meetings between U.S. and Cuban officials occurred earlier in the year.

WHY:

NPR - The U.S. stressed that Cuba cannot continue to be a "safe haven for adversaries in the Western Hemisphere."

NPR - Cuban officials argued that the island presents no threat to U.S. security and opposed its inclusion on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism.

NPR - The U.S. energy blockade has heightened Cuba's economic woes, leading to reduced work hours and food spoilage.

HOW:

NY Post - The Trump administration has been increasing economic pressure on Cuba and threatening military interventions if necessary.

(UPDATED May 15, 2026 21:21 UTC)

CIA Director John Ratcliffe recently met in Havana with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson of Raúl Castro, along with other key Cuban officials to discuss intelligence cooperation, economic stability, and security issues. The U.S. is ready to provide Cuba with $100 million in humanitarian assistance and support for satellite internet, contingent on changes from the Cuban regime, while Trump has threatened tariffs on any country supplying oil to Cuba. This meeting marks a significant moment as it is the first U.S. government flight to Cuba since 2016, emphasizing the ongoing dialogue between the two nations despite tensions surrounding Cuba's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.