Marco Rubio urges Cuban reformers to forge quiet partnerships with the CIA

Washington is intensifying its pressure on the Cuban government by opening a direct communication channel between island residents and the United States intelligence agency. This move coincides with a series of new economic sanctions and military rhetoric from the White House.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued the call for cooperation in a social media post on Friday. He wrote, "To those who seek to create positive change in Cuba - now is the time." Rubio cited the "disappointment of failed promises, corruption, and the privileged lives of only a few" as the current state of affairs. He encouraged readers to "seize this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discrete partnership with the CIA."

The Central Intelligence Agency amplified the message shortly after Rubio's post. The agency shared the appeal in Spanish and included a video that outlined specific steps for citizens to establish contact with the intelligence service.

This diplomatic initiative lands against a backdrop of deepening economic hardship in Cuba. The island remains under a strict U.S. embargo, which officials say is designed to pressure the communist leadership. Inflation has driven up the cost of basic necessities, and medical resources are scarce. Reports indicate that residents are waiting hours in lines for bread and doctor appointments.

U.S. pressure escalated in the days prior to Rubio's post. The government announced additional economic sanctions targeting Cuba's state-run bank, alleging the institution has ties to Iran. These financial measures aim to tighten the noose on the Cuban economy further.

President Donald Trump addressed the situation on Friday at a campaign rally in South Florida. He suggested that U.S. Navy warships currently deployed near the Strait of Hormuz would stop near the Cuban coast. "We'll have one of them stop about 50 yards off the coast," Trump said. He added that Cuban officials would raise their hands in surrender, after which Rubio would enter to "finish up the deal."

Cuban officials responded quickly to the U.S. statements. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla posted on social media on Friday to reject the approach. "We reject any threats stemming from U.S. ambitions toward Cuba," he wrote. Rodríguez Parrilla described the island's coastline as rugged and inhospitable to those arriving with hostile intentions.