CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with officials from Cuba's Ministry of the Interior during a visit to Havana on Thursday, May 14, according to a statement from the Cuban government.

The meeting represents the highest-level contact between U.S. and Cuban officials in recent months as tensions between the two countries remain elevated. Cuban officials said the session provided a platform for Cuba to present evidence asserting that the nation poses no threat to U.S. national security.

According to the Cuban government statement, the discussions were held "against a backdrop of complex bilateral relations" and aimed to foster political dialogue between the longtime adversaries. Cuban officials used the meeting to argue against the country's continued inclusion on the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, claiming there are no legitimate grounds for the designation.

The meeting comes amid heightened tensions following recent U.S. economic pressure on Cuba. In late January, President Donald Trump threatened tariffs against any country that sells or supplies oil to Cuba. Trump has also made threats to intervene in the Caribbean nation, prompting Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel to state that his country was prepared to defend itself.

This diplomatic contact follows previous meetings between U.S. and Cuban officials on the island in recent weeks, as confirmed by the Cuban government. The discussions occur as the U.S. maintains what Cuba characterizes as an energy blockade against the country.