Rubio Offers CIA Partnerships as U.S. Ships Near Havana, 50 Yards Out
The Secretary of State's public invitation to Cuban activists arrived alongside new sanctions and a presidential promise to park a warship just offshore.
By Hiroshi Ferrari ·
Washington is asking Cubans to work directly with the CIA while deploying naval assets within sight of Havana.
In a Friday post on X, Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged citizens seeking "positive change" to pursue "a discrete partnership with the CIA," citing what he called "the disappointment of failed promises, corruption, and the privileged lives of only a few." The CIA reposted the message with a Spanish-language version and a video detailing how to make contact. The appeal lands amid a tightening U.S. economic squeeze on the island. Prices for basic goods have climbed, medical access has narrowed, and citizens have spent hours waiting for bread and doctor appointments. Last week, Washington added sanctions against Cuba's state-run bank over its alleged ties to Iran. President Trump, speaking Friday at a South Florida rally, outlined how he expects the pressure campaign to proceed. "We'll take care of Cuba on our way back from Iran," Trump told supporters, referencing warships positioned near the Strait of Hormuz. He described a scenario in which a vessel anchors within 50 yards of the Cuban coast, after which "we're going to send Marco Rubio in to finish up the deal." Havana has dismissed the rhetoric. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla wrote on X: "We reject any threats stemming from U.S. ambitions toward Cuba." He added that while the coastline features beautiful beaches, it is "also rugged and inhospitable to those who arrive with hostile intentions and a desire for domination." The diplomatic exchange follows years of strained relations between Washington and Havana, with the U.S. maintaining an economic embargo against the Caribbean nation. Cuban authorities have faced recurring shortages of food and medicine, prompting some citizens to seek opportunities abroad. The CIA's outreach marks a rare public solicitation for local collaboration, signaling a shift toward more direct intelligence engagement in the region. No timeline has been set for when a U.S. vessel might anchor near Cuban territorial waters.
image_prompt]:
}]
