In May, for only the second time since 1959, the director of the CIA visited Havana to meet with Cuban government officials. Director John Ratcliffe said he was there to “personally deliver President Donald Trump’s message that the U.S. is prepared to seriously engage on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba makes fundamental changes.”
The meeting came as Cubans face an ongoing oil embargo that’s been enforced by the U.S. since February. The embargo has resulted in rolling blackouts and energy shortages.
In a further escalation, the U.S. announced it is indicting former Cuban president Raul Castro for an alleged 1996 crime of shooting down a U.S. plane flying near Havana.
The news carries echoes of what transpired earlier this year, when the Trump admin charged Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro with a crime before sending the military to kidnap him and bring him to the U.S. to be tried. The Trump government then pressured Maduro’s successor to fall in line with U.S. policies.
Canadian airlines have not been flying to Cuba since February, a major blow to Cuba’s much-needed tourism revenues. However, the Cuban government still encourages people to visit, and many Canadians have made the journey, bringing much-needed supplies to those living under the tightened U.S. embargo. The Canadian Network for Cuba has also been sending shipping containers with food and supplies.
This article appeared in the 2026 Jun/Jul issue.