Cuban Pressure: State Chief Seeks CIA Pact as Navy Threat Returns

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on Cubans seeking political change to form a private partnership with the Central Intelligence Agency. The directive arrived just hours after President Donald Trump proposed that American warships pause off the Cuban coast during their return from the Iran conflict.

The President outlined the plan during a Friday campaign rally for candidates in South Florida. He described a scenario where a naval vessel would stop approximately 50 yards from the shore. Trump said the crew would raise their hands in a greeting. He then stated that Rubio would be sent to "finish up the deal."

Rubio detailed his recruitment strategy in a social media post addressed to those seeking positive change. He cited corruption and broken promises as drivers for action. The official requested that citizens engage with the CIA through a "discrete partnership." The post contained a typo, using "discrete" instead of "discreet." The latter term implies secrecy, while the former means separate.

The proposal marks a return to an idea first floated earlier this year. Trump had not mentioned the naval maneuver in recent months. The topic resurfaced in response to a crowd question regarding the island nation. The rally occurred days before midterm elections, where voters expressed concern over inflation in gas and grocery prices caused by the war in Iran.

Havana rejected the overture on Friday. Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio criticized the move on X. He described the US approach as "public recruitment for the CIA." Fernandez de Cossio added that the agency must be in a state of "great deal of desperation or misery" to sell its services like a tube of toothpaste.

The administration has maintained an aggressive posture toward the island. Trump previously suggested Cuba would be the next target for intervention after the Iran war concludes. In May, he and Rubio raised the possibility of military action. This threat gained weight after the US announced criminal charges against former leader Raul Castro. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that he believed he would be the president to execute the intervention.

Rubio had kept a lower profile on the issue for several weeks. In a September 29 interview with Sean Hannity on Fox News, he declared that "Cuba has already fallen." He described the country as lacking a functional economy. He noted that the current leadership preaches a revolution that has been dead for 20 years. He did not reference a CIA operation in that conversation.

Diplomatic efforts have remained uneven. Senior US aides met with Cuban officials in recent months to explore improved relations. The US side expressed dissatisfaction with the meetings, leading to additional sanctions. At the United Nations General Assembly last month, Trump said Rubio was "deep into negotiations." He expressed confidence that a deal would be reached without military force. This week, the two governments clashed at the UN over an upcoming vote condemning the US economic embargo.

The island has faced a severe economic and energy crisis since 2020. Gross domestic product has shrunk. The population of 10 million residents has experienced blackouts, food shortages, and high inflation. Waves of protests have occurred. Hundreds of thousands of citizens have emigrated, with many moving to the United States.