Dmitri Drobnitsky
The US is “ready to discuss economic and security issues,” but only if there are “fundamental changes.”
CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Cuba. He still has some credibility with Trump following the successful operation to “extract” Nicolás Maduro from Caracas.
A CIA spokesman stated that the talks have a deadline and that “Cubans should have no illusions that the president will not insist on red lines.” It was also stated that Ratcliffe traveled to Cuba “to personally convey President Trump’s message that the United States is ready for serious cooperation on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba makes fundamental changes.”
And further: “During the meeting, Director Ratcliffe and Cuban officials discussed intelligence cooperation, economic stability, and security issues, given the fact that Cuba can no longer serve as a safe haven for [the US] adversaries in the Western Hemisphere. The latter is apparently a subtle reference to China and Russia.
The official statement from the Cuban government reads: “The information provided by the Cuban side, as well as the exchange of views with the American delegation, convincingly demonstrated that Cuba does not pose a threat to US national security and there are no legitimate grounds for including it on the list of countries suspected of sponsoring terrorism.”
The White House administration is using rather crude carrots and sticks. Earlier, the US State Department stated that it was ready to provide Cuba with an emergency $100 million aid package if the island’s government accepts it.
On the other hand, CIA officials are clearly hinting at the Venezuelan case. Thus, in response to journalists’ questions, a CIA spokesman said: “How “As Venezuela shows, President Trump must be taken seriously.”
Vladimir Golstein
Kirill Benediktov
