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

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on Cubans to initiate a private partnership with the Central Intelligence Agency.

In a social media post published on Friday, Rubio addressed citizens who desire political change and encouraged them to act while the window of opportunity exists. He cited failed promises, corruption, and the privileged status of a few as drivers for change. The secretary, whose parents emigrated from Cuba before the socialist revolution, described the proposed relationship as a discrete partnership with the CIA. He appeared to use the word discrete to mean separate, though the intended meaning was likely discreet, or secret.

This message followed President Donald Trump’s revival of a naval strategy during a rally in south Florida. Trump, speaking to candidates days before the midterm elections, described a plan for American warships returning from the Iran conflict to pause near the island. He stated that one ship would stop approximately 50 yards from the coast. Trump added that crew members would raise their hands in a gesture before Rubio would enter the scene to conclude a deal. The president first proposed this idea earlier in the year but had not discussed it in recent months.

The Cuban government responded with criticism on Friday. Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio wrote on X that the United States was engaging in public recruitment for the CIA. He characterized the move as evidence of desperation within the agency, comparing it to selling services like a tube of toothpaste.

The administration has maintained an aggressive stance toward Havana in recent months. In May, Trump and Rubio raised the prospect of military action, a threat that gained weight after the administration announced criminal charges against former leader Raul Castro. Trump told reporters that previous presidents had considered intervention for decades but that he expected to be the one to execute it. Rubio has described Cuba as a long-standing national security threat due to its ties to US adversaries. He expressed doubt that a peaceful resolution is possible with the current government in power.

Diplomatic efforts have been inconsistent. Senior US aides met with Cuban officials in recent months to explore better relations, but the US side was unimpressed by the outcome, leading to additional sanctions. At the United Nations general assembly last month, Trump said Rubio was deep into negotiations. Days later, the president stated he expected a deal and did not anticipate a military necessity. However, the two governments clashed at the UN earlier this week as Washington sought to build opposition to an annual vote condemning the US economic embargo.

Cuba has faced an economic and energy crisis since 2020. The country's gross domestic product has shrunk, and its 10 million residents have endured blackouts, food shortages, and inflation. Protests have occurred in waves, and hundreds of thousands of Cubans have emigrated, with many settling in the United States.