Rubio urges Cubans to contact CIA as Trump revives warship plan

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Cubans who want political change to act immediately. In a social media post on Friday, he declared that the current moment is the right time to seek a better future for the island nation.

Rubio addressed those who seek to create positive change, citing disappointment over broken promises and corruption. He encouraged citizens to pursue change through a discrete partnership with the Central Intelligence Agency. The text used the word discrete, meaning separate, likely instead of discreet, which means private or secret.

The message followed a rally in south Florida where President Donald Trump discussed the role of American warships. Trump suggested that ships returning from the Iran war could make a brief stop near Cuba. He described one vessel stopping about 50 yards off the coast, where sailors would raise their hands before sending Rubio to finalize a deal.

Trump had not mentioned this naval strategy in recent months before bringing it up in response to a crowd question. The rally occurred days before midterm elections, during which voters expressed concern about rising prices for gas and groceries caused by the conflict in Iran.

Havana responded with mockery on Friday. Cuban deputy foreign minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio posted on X that the US was resorting to public recruitment for the CIA. He added that the agency must be in a state of desperation to sell its services like a tube of toothpaste.

Both leaders have adopted aggressive stances on Cuba since the Iran war began. Trump previously suggested the island would be next for intervention after the conflict in Iran winds down. In May, he and Rubio raised the prospect of military action. This threat gained weight after the administration announced criminal charges against former Cuban leader Raul Castro.

Rubio said earlier in the year that Cuba had already fallen, describing an economy that does not function and a revolution that has been dead for two decades. He stated the US would never allow the island to become a base for operations against American interests. He did not mention a CIA operation in that interview.

Diplomatic efforts have been uneven. Rubio and other aides met Cuban officials to explore better relations, but the US side was unimpressed and imposed more sanctions. Trump told reporters last month that he expected a deal and did not think the military would be needed. Earlier this week, the two governments clashed at the United Nations over an upcoming vote on the US economic embargo. Cuba has faced a severe economic and energy crisis since 2020, with its gross domestic product shrinking and 10 million residents dealing with blackouts and food shortages.