Cuba's New Diplomatic Lifeline: Direct CIA Contact
The State Department director urged islanders to form quiet ties with the agency while U.S. warships prepare to pass close to Havana.
By Karim Ramirez ·
Cuban citizens face a new diplomatic channel this week as the United States invited them to coordinate directly with the Central Intelligence Agency. Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted the invitation on X on Friday, marking a shift in Washington's strategy to influence the island's political future. The move coincides with rising economic hardship and a naval presence near the island's coast.
Rubio directed islanders seeking improvement to initiate contact with the intelligence agency. He described the current situation as one of "disappointment of failed promises, corruption, and the privileged lives of only a few." The Secretary urged readers to "seize this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discrete partnership with the CIA." The CIA reposted the message shortly after, providing a video with instructions in Spanish for making first contact.
The appeal arrives while Cuba endures a strict U.S. embargo and sanctions. Basic goods have become more expensive, and medical access has narrowed. Residents have reported waiting hours in lines for bread and doctor appointments. Last week, the U.S. government added pressure by targeting Cuba's state-run bank with new sanctions, citing the institution's ties to Iran.
President Donald Trump outlined a specific naval scenario during a campaign rally in South Florida on Friday. He stated that U.S. Navy warships currently deployed near the Strait of Hormuz would pass Cuba on their return from Iran. Trump described the plan in detail, saying one ship would stop "about 50 yards off the coast." He added that sailors would raise their hands before he sent Rubio to "finish up the deal."
Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla rejected the U.S. rhetoric on Friday. He posted on X that the government rejects any threats stemming from American ambitions. Rodríguez Parrilla noted that while the island has beautiful beaches, the coastline is also "rugged and inhospitable to those who arrive with hostile intentions and a desire for domination."
Source: CBS News
