Rubio urges Cubans to act now

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Cubans on social media that the moment for change is here. He wrote directly to those seeking positive shifts in their government. He urged them to move forward immediately. His message followed a loud statement from President Donald Trump. The President spoke at a rally in south Florida on Friday. He suggested American warships could stop near Cuba. This would happen as they return from the Iran conflict.

Rubio focused on the disappointment of broken promises. He cited corruption and the comfort of a small elite. He invited Cubans to seize this opportunity. He proposed a partnership with the CIA. He used the word discrete in his post. This likely meant discreet or private. His parents left the island before the socialist revolution. The typo may have caused some confusion. But the intent of a secret working relationship was clear to many observers.

Trump had mentioned this naval idea earlier in the year. He had not spoken of it in recent months. A question from the crowd brought it back. The rally took place just before the midterm elections. Voters were worried about prices. The war on Iran had raised costs for gas and groceries. Trump said the ships would make a stopover. He described one ship stopping about 50 yards off the coast. He said the crew would raise their hands. Then he would send Rubio to finish the deal.

Havana reacted with mockery on Friday. Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio posted on X. He said the US was doing public recruitment for the CIA. He joked that the agency must be desperate. He compared selling its services to a tube of toothpaste. Both Trump and Rubio have been aggressive on Cuba. Trump suggested the island would be next for intervention. He predicted this after the Iran war ended. In May, they raised the prospect of military action. This threat gained weight after charges against former leader Raul Castro.

Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that earlier presidents had considered this. He said he would be the one to do it. Rubio called Cuba a national security threat. He pointed to ties with US adversaries. He wanted a peaceful resolution but doubted the current government would agree. Rubio had not discussed Cuba in depth for weeks. In a September interview, he said Cuba had already fallen. He described a broken economy and a dead revolution. He hoped Cuba would choose a different path.

Diplomatic talks have been uneven. Senior aides met Cuban officials recently. The US side was unimpressed. More sanctions followed. At the UN general assembly last month, Trump said Rubio was deep in negotiations. He expected a deal without military force. But earlier this week, the two governments clashed at the UN. Washington sought to build opposition to an annual vote on the embargo. Cuba has faced a crisis since 2020. Its GDP has shrunk. Ten million residents have faced blackouts and shortages. Many have left for the United States.