Rubio Calls for Secret CIA Ties as Trump Revives Warship Threat

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told Cubans who want political change to act now. He urged them to move forward through a discrete partnership with the CIA. The message arrived shortly after President Donald Trump suggested American warships could intervene in Cuba. Trump made the comment at a rally in south Florida on Friday. He spoke about ships returning from the Iran war.

The tension between the two nations has escalated this year. In May, Trump and Rubio raised the prospect of military action. The administration also announced criminal charges against former Cuban leader Raul Castro. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he might be the one to intervene. He noted that earlier presidents had considered doing so for decades. Rubio described Cuba as a long-standing national security threat. He said a peaceful resolution seemed unlikely with the current government.

Rubio had not spoken in depth about Cuba for several weeks. In a September 29 interview on Fox News, he said Cuba had already fallen. He described a country without a functional economy. He voiced hope that Cuba would choose a different path. The US would not allow the island to become a base against American interests. He did not mention any CIA operation at that time.

Diplomatic efforts have been uneven in recent months. Rubio and other senior aides met with Cuban officials to explore better relations. The US side was unimpressed by those talks. More sanctions followed the meetings. Trump told reporters last month that he expected a deal and did not think the military would be needed. He said Rubio was deep into negotiations. However, the two governments clashed at the UN earlier this week. Washington sought to build opposition to an upcoming vote condemning the US economic embargo.

Havana mocked the US comments on Friday. Deputy foreign minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio wrote on X that the US was resorting to public recruitment for the CIA. He said the agency must be desperate or miserable to sell its services like a tube of toothpaste. The US approach has become more aggressive as the midterm elections approach. Voters have expressed concern about how the war on Iran has affected prices for goods like gas and groceries.

Cuba has faced an economic and energy crisis since 2020. Its gross domestic product has shrunk. The 10 million residents have dealt with blackouts, food shortages, and inflation. Waves of protests have occurred in recent years. Hundreds of thousands of Cubans have emigrated, with many moving to the United States. The current situation remains tense as both sides weigh their next moves.

The next steps are unclear. Trump plans to send Rubio in to finish a deal if the warships stop near the coast. He described the ships raising their hands as a signal. The US government continues to balance threats of military action with diplomatic talks. The outcome will depend on how the Cuban government responds to the new push for change.