politics
CIA Director Brings Paramilitary Operator to Havana Meeting
CIA Director John Ratcliffe met senior Cuban officials in Havana last week. He brought one of the operators involved in the January capture of Nicolás Maduro. The visit occurred amid U.S. pressure on Cuba over oil exports and security issues.
May 22, 5:54 PM·1m read1 source
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CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Havana last week and met with senior Cuban officials. U.S. mission that captured then-Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, multiple people familiar with the matter told CBS News. Ratcliffe introduced the paramilitary leader to the Cuban officials as the person who killed their personnel during the Maduro operation, several sources said.
Cuba has stated that 32 of its military and police officers died in that extraction.
U.S. pressure on Cuba. The administration has threatened steep tariffs on countries exporting oil to the island, contributing to fuel shortages there. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Cuba needs to make fundamental economic and political reforms.
President Trump has discussed a possible "friendly takeover" of the island. " One participant in the talks was Raúl Rodriguez Castro, grandson of former Cuban President Raúl Castro. U.S. federal court unsealed an indictment charging the 94-year-old Raúl Castro with murder and conspiracy related to Cuba's 1996 downing of two planes.
Ratcliffe discussed security issues with Cuban officials, the CIA official said, noting that Cuba can no longer serve as a safe haven for adversaries in the Western Hemisphere. Rubio told reporters that Cuba has acquired weapons from Russia and China and hosts their intelligence presence.
U.S. military carries out strikes. CBS News has confirmed that Cuba has acquired attack drones. Spokespeople for the CIA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
