CIA Director Brought Paramilitary Leader Involved in Maduro Capture to Cuba Meeting, Sources Say

Updated on: May 22, 2026 / 6:04 PM EDT / CBS News

CIA Director Brought Paramilitary Leader Involved in Maduro Capture to Cuba Meeting, Sources Say

TL;DR

  • CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Cuban officials in Havana.
  • Ratcliffe reportedly brought an operative involved in the capture of Nicolás Maduro.
  • The visit aimed to send a signal amid increased US pressure on Cuba.
  • The US is prepared to engage on economic and security issues if Cuba makes fundamental changes.
  • Cuba cannot be a safe haven for adversaries in the Western Hemisphere.
  • The meeting occurred against a backdrop of historical US-Cuba tensions and recent developments like an indictment against Raúl Castro and Cuba's acquisition of attack drones.