Trump government uses a combination of threats, sanctions and offers of aid to get the island to liberalize its economy
The United States increased pressure on Cuba to force economic opening and political reforms in the Caribbean country. John Ratcliffe, director of the (Central Intelligence Agency), visited the island on Thursday (May 14, 2026) without prior announcement.
Ratcliffe met with Cuban officials, including Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, Havana’s interlocutor in recent discussions with the US. The Minister of the Interior, Lázaro Álvarez Casas, also participated in the meeting. During the conversations, Ratcliffe stated that the country had a “rare opportunity to stabilize its declining economy”.
US PRESSURE
Washington combines economic sanctions, the possibility of legal charges and US$100 million for the island. The US government also maintains the possibility of military action similar to that carried out in Venezuela, if Cuba does not meet the demands.
President Donald Trump’s administration has set a short deadline for the Cuban government to accept the demands, which include:
- economic liberalization with increased foreign investment;
- expansion of the private sector;
- release of political prisoners;
- beginning of reforms in the political system.
HAVANA’S RESPONSE
On Friday (May 15, 2026) in Granma, the official newspaper of the Communist Party. The text stated that, during the meeting, the country “categorically demonstrated that Cuba does not constitute a threat to US national security, nor are there legitimate reasons to include it on the list of countries that allegedly sponsor terrorism”.
The statement also stated that the island “does not harbor, support, finance or enable terrorist or extremist organizations”. According to the Cuban government, “There are no foreign military or intelligence bases on its territory, and Cuba has never supported any hostile activity against the United States, nor will it allow actions against any other nation to be carried out from Cuba”.
