Rubio Calls for Secret CIA Ties as Trump Returns to 50-Yard Warship Plan

Marco Rubio told Cubans that the moment to create change is now. He asked citizens who want a different political direction to reach out to the Central Intelligence Agency. This call for action followed President Donald Trump's decision to revive a plan for American warships to stop near the Cuban coast.

The Secretary of State published a message on social media addressed to those who seek positive change. He pointed to failed promises, corruption, and the privileged lives of a few as reasons for dissatisfaction. He encouraged Cubans to work through a partnership with the CIA. Rubio, whose parents left Cuba before the socialist revolution, used the word discrete instead of discreet. He likely meant the relationship should be private or secret.

Trump first mentioned the naval idea earlier this year but had stayed silent on it for months. He brought the topic back during a Friday rally for candidates in south Florida. The event took place days before the midterm elections, where voters have expressed concern over price increases for gas and groceries linked to the Iran war.

Trump described a scenario where ships returning from Iran would make a stopover. He said one ship would stop about 50 yards off the coast. The crew would raise their hands in a gesture. He then said he would send Rubio to finish the deal.

Havana responded to the comments on Friday. Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, the Cuban deputy foreign minister, posted on X that the United States was recruiting for the CIA publicly. He called the move a sign of desperation or misery within the agency. He compared the situation to selling a tube of toothpaste.

Both leaders have taken an aggressive stance on Cuba. Trump has suggested the country could be the next target for intervention after the Iran war ends. In May, he and Rubio raised the possibility of military action. This threat gained weight after the administration announced criminal charges against former leader Raul Castro. Trump told reporters that previous presidents considered intervening for decades but that he expected to be the one to do it.

Rubio argued that Cuba poses a national security threat due to its ties with US adversaries. He said the administration wants a peaceful resolution but doubts the current government will agree. He had not discussed Cuba in depth for several weeks before the recent posts.

Rubio told Sean Hannity on Fox News in a September 29 interview that Cuba had already fallen. He described the country as lacking a functional economy and run by leaders preaching a dead revolution. He expressed hope that Cuba would choose a different path. He did not mention a CIA operation in that interview.

Diplomatic efforts have been mixed. Rubio and other aides met with Cuban officials in recent months to explore better relations. The US side was unimpressed by the discussions, leading to more sanctions. Trump told reporters last month that Rubio was deep into negotiations and that a deal was likely without military force. Earlier this week, the two governments clashed at the United Nations over an upcoming vote condemning the US economic embargo.

Cuba has faced an economic and energy crisis since 2020. Its gross domestic product has shrunk. The 10 million residents have dealt with blackouts, food shortages, and inflation. Protests have occurred in waves, and hundreds of thousands have emigrated, many to the United States.