Rubio Signals Direct US Role in Cuba as Trump Revives Warship Plan
The Secretary of State urged Cubans to partner with the CIA while the President suggested naval vessels might intervene during their return from the Middle East.
By Ivan Dvorak ·
One hundred million residents of Cuba face a shrinking economy and chronic energy shortages, a backdrop against which US officials have sharply increased their rhetoric this week. Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a direct appeal to citizens seeking political transformation, stating that the current moment is ideal for action. His statement coincided with President Donald Trump bringing back a proposal for American warships to intervene in Cuban waters as they return from operations in Iran.
In a social media post aimed at those wanting positive change, Rubio highlighted issues such as broken promises, corruption, and the privileges enjoyed by a small elite. He encouraged the population to seize the opportunity to work through what he described as a discrete partnership with the Central Intelligence Agency. Rubio, whose parents emigrated to the US before the socialist revolution, appeared to use the word discrete, meaning separate, when he likely intended discreet, meaning secret or private.
Trump reintroduced the naval concept at a Friday rally in south Florida. Responding to a question from the crowd about the island nation, he suggested that ships would make a stopover on their way back from Iran. He described one vessel stopping approximately 50 yards off the coast, with crew members raising their hands before sending Rubio in to finalize a deal. The rally took place days before midterm elections, where voters have expressed concern over how the Iran conflict has impacted prices for essentials like gas and groceries.
Havana reacted with mockery to these comments. Cuban deputy foreign minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio posted on X that the US was effectively recruiting for the CIA publicly. He remarked that there must be significant desperation within the agency for it to be forced to sell its services like a tube of toothpaste.
The administration has adopted an aggressive stance on the island. Trump previously suggested Cuba would be the next target for intervention after the Iran war concludes. In May, both leaders raised the possibility of military action, a threat that gained weight after the administration announced criminal charges against former leader Raúl Castro. Trump told reporters that earlier presidents had considered intervening for decades but that it looked like he would be the one to execute it. Rubio argued that Cuba has long been a national security threat due to its ties to US adversaries, noting that while the administration prefers a peaceful resolution, he doubted it could be achieved with the current government in place.
Diplomatic efforts have remained inconsistent. Senior aides have met with Cuban officials recently, but the US side reported disappointment, leading to additional sanctions. Despite these tensions, Trump told reporters last month that he expected a deal to be reached without military necessity. However, the two governments clashed at the UN earlier this week as Washington worked to build opposition to an upcoming vote condemning the US economic embargo.
Cuba has endured an economic and energy crisis since 2020. The country's gross domestic product has contracted, leaving its 10 million residents to deal with blackouts, food shortages, and high inflation. These conditions have sparked waves of protests and driven hundreds of thousands of Cubans to emigrate, with many moving to the United States.
