CIA Chief Ratcliffe in Cuba for Talks

(MENAFN) CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Havana on Thursday for talks with senior Cuban officials on intelligence cooperation, economic stability, and security matters, media reported, citing a CIA official.

Ratcliffe sat down with a high-level Cuban delegation that included Raul Castro's grandson, Raul Guillermo Rodriguez Castro, Interior Minister Lazaro Alvarez Casas, and the chief of Cuba's intelligence services.

The visit was framed as a direct diplomatic overture from Washington. Ratcliffe made the trip "to personally deliver President (Donald) Trump's message that the United States is prepared to seriously engage on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba makes fundamental changes," the CIA official said.

Cuba's government separately confirmed the meetings took place, acknowledging in a statement issued Thursday that the talks were held at Washington's request.

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