Cuban Policy Shift: Rubio Invites Direct CIA Collaboration
The Secretary of State urged reformers to form a discrete partnership with the intelligence agency as U.S. warships loom near the island.
By Emmanuel Obasi ·
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on Cubans who want to alter their government to establish a direct line of communication with the Central Intelligence Agency. This move marks a distinct shift in the Trump administration’s strategy to dismantle the current leadership in Havana.
In a post on X on Friday, Rubio stated, "To those who seek to create positive change in Cuba - now is the time." He cited the "disappointment of failed promises, corruption, and the privileged lives of only a few" as drivers for action. He specifically urged readers to "seize this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discrete partnership with the CIA."
The CIA immediately reposted the message, providing a Spanish version and a video with instructions on how to contact the agency. This outreach occurs while Cuba endures a strict U.S. embargo. Prices for basic goods have risen sharply, and medical access has contracted. Reports indicate residents are waiting hours for bread and doctor appointments.
Economic pressure intensified last week when Washington announced new sanctions against Cuba’s state-run bank. The U.S. government identified the institution as having ties to Iran. President Trump addressed the situation at a campaign rally in South Florida on Friday. He said, "We'll take care of Cuba on our way back from Iran," referencing Navy warships deployed near the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump described a specific sequence of events involving the naval deployment. He said, "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, and then we're going to send Marco Rubio in to finish up the deal."
Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla rejected the approach on X on Friday. He wrote, "We reject any threats stemming from U.S. ambitions toward Cuba." He noted that the island's coastline is "also rugged and inhospitable to those who arrive with hostile intentions and a desire for domination."
The U.S. government is combining economic sanctions with a public invitation for intelligence cooperation. Warships remain in the region, and the Secretary of State has formally opened a channel for Cuban reformers to contact the CIA directly.
Source: CBS News
