Rubio tells Cubans to reach out to CIA as Trump outlines 50-yard naval stop

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Cubans to reach out to the Central Intelligence Agency, stating that the current moment is the correct time for those seeking political change in the island nation. This public invitation followed remarks by President Donald Trump, who described a specific naval protocol for American warships returning from the conflict in Iran.

In a social media post, Rubio addressed citizens who desired to create positive change. He cited corruption and the failure of previous promises as reasons for dissatisfaction. He proposed a partnership with the CIA to facilitate these changes, using the word "discrete" in the text. Rubio, whose parents emigrated from Cuba before the socialist revolution, likely intended to write "discreet," which implies secrecy, rather than "discrete," which means separate.

President Trump introduced the naval plan during a campaign rally for candidates in south Florida on Friday. He responded to a question from the audience regarding Cuba by describing a "stopover" for ships leaving the region after the Iran war. He explained that one vessel would stop approximately 50 yards from the Cuban coast. He added that the crew would raise their hands, and he would then send Rubio to complete the arrangement.

The rally occurred just days before midterm elections. Voters in the state have expressed concern about how the war in Iran has influenced prices for essential goods, including gasoline and groceries. Trump had proposed a similar idea earlier in the year but had not discussed it publicly in recent months before this event.

Havana reacted to the news with skepticism. Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, the Cuban deputy foreign minister, posted on X that the United States was publicly recruiting agents for the CIA. He compared the agency's actions to selling a tube of toothpaste, suggesting a level of desperation or misery within the organization.

The administration has maintained a firm stance on Cuba in recent months. Trump previously suggested that the island would be the next target for intervention after the Iran conflict concludes. In May, both Trump and Rubio raised the possibility of military action. This threat gained weight after the administration announced criminal charges against former Cuban leader Raul Castro. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he might be the president to finally intervene in the country.

Rubio characterized Cuba as a long-standing national security threat due to its relationships with US adversaries. He expressed a preference for a peaceful resolution but doubted that the current Cuban government would agree to one. In a September interview on Fox News, Rubio stated that Cuba had already fallen, describing its economy as non-functional and its leadership as preaching a dead revolution. He did not mention any CIA operation during that interview.

Diplomatic efforts between the two nations have been inconsistent. Senior US aides met with Cuban officials in recent months to explore improved relations, but the US side remained unimpressed by the discussions. This led to the imposition of additional sanctions. Last month, Trump told reporters that Rubio was deep into negotiations and that a deal was likely without military intervention. However, the two governments recently clashed at the United Nations as Washington worked to build opposition to an annual vote condemning the US economic embargo against Cuba. The island has faced an economic and energy crisis since 2020, with its gross domestic product shrinking and its 10 million residents enduring blackouts, food shortages, and inflation.