Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on Cubans to collaborate with the CIA to foster political change in Cuba, as President Trump suggested Rubio could negotiate with the island’s government.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Cubans seeking political change to form a “discrete partnership with the CIA.” This call to action came as President Donald Trump mentioned the possibility of sending Rubio to Cuba to negotiate a deal with the communist-run government.
In a post on X, Rubio stated, “To those who seek to create positive change in Cuba – now is the time. The disappointment of failed promises, corruption, and the privileged lives of only a few; seize this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discrete partnership with the CIA.”
Rubio’s message explicitly encouraged Cubans to collaborate with the U.S. intelligence agency, though he did not specify any particular operation or detail what such cooperation might entail. The son of Cuban immigrants, Rubio has consistently advocated for a tougher U.S. stance on the Cuban government and has been a vocal critic of the communist leadership in Havana. He has opposed efforts to normalize relations without significant political reforms.
During a midterm rally in Fort Myers, Florida, Trump raised the prospect of U.S. ships stopping near Cuba while discussing Iran. “Don’t worry. We’ll take care of Cuba on our way back from Iran,” Trump told the crowd. “We’ll do a little stopover now.” He further elaborated, “Actually, what we’re going to do with Cuba is we’re going to come back from Iran. Those beautiful ships will pass Cuba. We’ll have one of them stop about 50 yards off the coast. They’ll raise up their hands.”
Trump then suggested that Rubio could lead negotiations with the Cuban government. “And then we’re going to send Marco Rubio in to finish up the deal. We’ll have Marco. Marco. We don’t even have to stop. We could just put him in there and he’ll figure it out. He’s a great guy,” Trump said.
However, Trump did not provide any specific details regarding a potential agreement with Cuba or clarify whether his comments reflected a concrete military or diplomatic strategy.
Fox News Digital reached out to the CIA, State Department, White House, and the Cuban Embassy in Washington, D.C., for comments regarding these developments.
According to Fox News, Rubio’s call for collaboration with the CIA highlights ongoing tensions between the U.S. and Cuba, as well as the complexities of U.S. foreign policy in the region.