Rubio Urges Cuban Defectors to Contact CIA

The United States has intensified its pressure on Havana, with the Secretary of State issuing a direct appeal to the Cuban people. This diplomatic and military signaling comes as Washington prepares for midterm elections.

Marco Rubio posted a message on social media on Friday. He addressed those who want positive change in their country. Rubio declared that the current moment presents the best opportunity for action.

The Secretary of State specifically encouraged Cubans to partner with the CIA. He described this collaboration as a way to create the desired change. Rubio used the word discrete in his post. He likely meant discreet, a term implying privacy or secrecy.

Donald Trump reinforced the message at a rally in south Florida. He spoke to candidates just days before voters head to the polls. The President revived a plan he first mentioned earlier this year.

Trump described US warships returning from the Iran conflict. He said they would make a stopover near Cuba. One ship would anchor about 50 yards off the coast. The crew would raise their hands in a gesture to the island. Trump said Rubio would then move in to finalize a deal.

Havana reacted with immediate skepticism. Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio criticized the move on X. He accused the US of public recruitment for intelligence agencies. He compared the effort to selling toothpaste out of desperation.

The two leaders have adopted an aggressive stance recently. In May, they threatened military action. That threat gained weight after the US charged former leader Raul Castro with crimes. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he expected to be the president who intervenes. Rubio called the island a long-standing national security threat.

Diplomatic talks have remained inconsistent. Senior US officials met Cuban counterparts in recent months. The US side expressed disappointment with the results. New sanctions followed those meetings. Trump told the UN in September that Rubio was negotiating. He predicted a deal would be reached without military force. However, the two governments clashed at the UN earlier this week over an embargo vote. Cuba has faced an economic crisis since 2020. Its GDP has shrunk, and millions of residents have emigrated.