US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urges Cuban citizens to partner with CIA

WASHINGTON — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly called on individuals seeking political transformation in Cuba to partner with the Central Intelligence Agency, urging civilians to help force an end to the island nation’s communist government.

Writing on the social media platform X, Mr Rubio stated, “To those who seek to create positive change in Cuba – now is the time.” He pointed to failed promises, corruption, and privileged lives on the island, encouraging citizens to establish a discreet partnership with the intelligence agency. Simultaneously, the CIA released a video in Spanish on X providing instructions for individuals to transmit information and suggesting they visit a US embassy in person.

The public recruitment drive unfolds amid heightened economic and political pressure from Washington. For more than 60 years, the United States has maintained an embargo against Havana. Recently, a US-imposed oil blockade has induced severe fuel shortages and blackouts across Cuba, plunging civilians into intense economic hardship. United Nations rights experts have condemned the blockade, declaring it a violation of international law.

The developments follow aggressive regional actions by the Trump administration, including the US military’s capture of Venezuelan then-President Nicolas Maduro during a deadly raid in January. President Donald Trump and other senior American officials have openly hinted at the possibility of military intervention and a permanent US presence in Cuba, while authorities in Florida have issued an arrest warrant for Cuban leader Raul Castro. Rights advocates have criticized the administration’s posture, stating that the threats echo an imperialist approach.

Cuban officials strongly rejected the American appeal. Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio mocked the initiative on X, writing that the United States has resorted to public recruitment for intelligence services due to desperation or misery. In an appearance on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal, Mr Fernandez de Cossio further asserted that any US use of military force against Cuba would constitute an atrocious international crime.