CIA Director John Ratcliffe traveled to Cuba on Thursday and delivered a message from Washington offering deeper engagement with Havana if the communist government agrees to “fundamental changes” to its political system.
Ratcliffe met with senior Cuban lawmakers during what is believed to be only the second known visit by a CIA director to the island since Cuba’s 1959 communist revolution. The U.S. reportedly told Cuban officials it would “seriously engage” with the government, but only if major reforms are implemented.
The Cuban government said both sides discussed expanding cooperation between law enforcement agencies in areas tied to national, regional, and international security.
The U.S. State Department announced it is prepared to provide $100 million in aid to Cuba, while again calling for “meaningful reforms” to the country’s communist system.
“The decision rests with the Cuban regime to accept our offer of assistance or deny critical life-saving aid,” the State Department said, adding that Cuban authorities would ultimately be accountable to their citizens if they block the assistance.
