On May 15, CIA Director John Ratcliffe delivered a clear-cut message to Havana: Cuba is urged to make essential changes before a "window of opportunity" closes, and the U.S. offer won't remain available indefinitely.
This analysis comes from Miami-based journalist Miguel Cossío, who delves into the political implications of the confidential meeting between the CIA and Cuban officials.
"John Ratcliffe's message from the CIA was straightforward: you need to make fundamental changes before the window shuts," summarized Cossío.
The Cuban Regime's Defensive Stance
Cossío highlighted how the Cuban government portrayed the meeting to its press as one arranged "at the request of the United States."
To Cossío, this narrative exposes Havana's defensive posture. "I'm the one with the problem, yet you're the one asking for a meeting," he jested, echoing the Cuban government's implicit message to its domestic audience.
Representing Cuba were Interior Minister Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas, Brigadier General Ramón Romero Curbelo—head of the Intelligence Directorate of the MININT—and Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as "El Cangrejo," the grandson of Raúl Castro.
The meeting was sanctioned, according to Cuba's official statement, by "the country's high leadership."
U.S. Concerns Over Cuban Alliances
Cossío said Ratcliffe's core message was clear: Washington has ongoing investigations and is fully aware of the regime's activities.
"We have numerous investigations underway. We know extensively: what moves, who our real adversaries are, whom you've harbored," paraphrased the journalist.
Among the activities attributed to the Cuban regime by the U.S., Cossío listed Medicare fraud, money laundering, and human trafficking, along with past drug trafficking.
However, Washington's primary concern, according to the analyst, extends beyond these: it's about China's and Russia's operations on Cuban soil and the sanctuary the island provides to fugitives from U.S. law.
"I'm not just referring to fugitives from U.S. justice finding refuge in Cuba, but also the operations of China and Russia on Cuban territory, which indeed concern the United States," stated Cossío.
Significance of CIA's Public Disclosure
The journalist also explained why the CIA opted to release photos of the meeting, which is unusual for such operations. Cossío believes exposing the face of Cuba's intelligence chief was a deliberate signal: Washington knows exactly who it's dealing with. "John Ratcliffe has no qualms about appearing in any photo or walking through a Capitol hallway," he noted.
Cossío was the first to publicly identify Romero Curbelo from exile. He is listed as number 10 in his "Cuban deck," a card game created in 2021—following the July 11 protests—to reveal the faces of power in Cuba, inspired by the deck used by the U.S. against Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003.
Regarding the actual capability of Cuban espionage, Cossío was clear: "Technology has far surpassed espionage activities. Cuba has lagged significantly. Nonetheless, it still poses a threat, not militarily to the United States, but to intelligence and national security."
The analyst also noted that since February this year, the U.S. Southern Command has intensified electronic information gathering and surveillance flights over the island, reinforcing the notion that Washington's pressure on Cuba isn't just diplomatic but also involves active intelligence operations.
Cuba's Current Crises and the Urgency for Change
The meeting occurred as the regime faces six simultaneous crises, including a severe energy crisis, with two complete collapses of the national electrical system in March 2026, and an economic crisis with no visible solution.
The window Ratcliffe mentioned, according to Cossío, won't remain open indefinitely.
Questions on U.S.-Cuba Relations and CIA's Involvement
What changes is the CIA urging Cuba to make?
The CIA is urging Cuba to implement fundamental changes to avoid missing a critical opportunity with the United States, though specific changes were not detailed in the public message.
Why is the U.S. concerned about China's and Russia's operations in Cuba?
The U.S. is worried about the influence and activities of China and Russia in Cuba, as they may pose a threat to U.S. national security and intelligence operations.