Senator Marco Rubio has issued a direct appeal to Cubans seeking political change, urging them to act now and establish a "discrete partnership with the CIA." Rubio's call, posted on X (formerly Twitter), cited "the disappointment of failed promises, corruption, and the privileged lives of only a few" as reasons to seize the opportunity for change.
Trump's Military Intervention Hints
Rubio's public statement came shortly after former President Donald Trump renewed threats of military intervention in Cuba during a campaign rally in South Florida. Addressing supporters in Fort Myers, Trump suggested that American warships returning from a conflict with Iran could make a "little stopover" off Cuba's coast.
Trump remarked, "We’ll have one of them stop about 50 yards off the coast. They’ll raise up their hands. And then we’re going to send (Senator) Marco Rubio in to finish up the deal." He further hinted at potential kinetic action if negotiations faltered, stating, "We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree."
Havana Rejects US Statements, Mocks CIA Recruitment
Cuban officials quickly rejected the statements from both Rubio and Trump, condemning US policies toward the island. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez denounced what he described as imperialist "US ambitions."
Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio took to X to mock Washington's approach, writing, "Now the United States is resorting to public recruitment for the CIA. There must be a great deal of desperation or misery within the agency for it to be forced to sell its services like a tube of toothpaste." Rodríguez also asserted that Cuba's coastline, while beautiful, is an "inhospitable environment for those who make it to our shores with hostile purposes and lust for domination."
Long-Standing Hardline Stance on Cuba
Both Trump and Rubio have consistently maintained a hardline stance on Cuba. Trump previously suggested Cuba could be "next" for US intervention as other operations concluded, and in May, he raised the specter of military action following criminal charges against former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, stating it looked like he would be the one to act after decades of contemplation by previous presidents.
Rubio, for his part, has cited Cuba's ties with US adversaries as a national security threat and expressed skepticism regarding the viability of diplomatic resolution with the island's current leadership. Despite recent meetings between Rubio and senior aides with Cuban representatives, the US side reported being unimpressed, leading to additional sanctions against Havana. Cuba is widely reported to be under significant economic strain.