US Secretary Of State Marco Rubio Declares Cuba A “National Security Threat”/Image@ BBC
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has labeled Cuba as a “national security threat,” expressing skepticism about the potential for a peaceful resolution between the two nations.
His remarks follow recent charges against Cuba’s former President, Raúl Castro, for murder related to the 1996 downing of two planes that resulted in the deaths of American citizens.
Rubio emphasized that while Washington prefers a diplomatic approach, President Donald Trump has both the right and duty to safeguard the nation against perceived threats.
”Diplomacy remains our preference with Cuba,” he stated. However, he added, “the likelihood of that happening, given who we’re dealing with right now, is not high.”
Cuba’s Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodríguez, responded to Rubio’s claims, accusing him of spreading falsehoods and asserting that the island has never posed a threat to the United States.
Rodríguez vehemently denied Rubio’s assertion that Cuba is among the “leading sponsors of terrorism in the entire region,” which he condemned in a post on social media platform X.
Rodríguez criticized Rubio for allegedly attempting to incite military aggression against Cuba and accused the US government of systematically attacking his country.
The island is currently grappling with a fuel crisis worsened by an ongoing US oil blockade, resulting in extended blackouts and food shortages for its citizens.
Rubio noted that Cuba had accepted a US offer of $100 million in humanitarian assistance.
The Trump administration has consistently sought to increase pressure on Cuba and has openly discussed the possibility of dismantling its communist regime.
The indictment of Castro has drawn comparisons to President Trump’s earlier actions against Venezuelan President, Nicolás Maduro.
When asked about the potential for bringing Castro to the US to face charges, Rubio declined to elaborate on any plans, stating, “If we were trying to get him here, why would I say to the media what our plans are about that?”
Acting Attorney General, Todd Blanche, who announced the charges in Miami, expressed confidence that Castro would eventually appear in the US, whether voluntarily or through other means.
On Thursday, Rubio also revealed the arrest of Adys Lastres Morera, sister of a high-ranking official in a Cuban military-run conglomerate that oversees significant sectors of the Cuban economy.
Morera was apprehended in Florida for allegedly aiding Havana’s communist regime and will remain in custody pending deportation proceedings.
In remarks made in the Oval Office, President Donald Trump described Cuba as a “failed country” and reiterated his administration’s commitment to providing humanitarian support.
He expressed a desire for Cuban-Americans to return to their homeland and contribute to its success, stating, “Other presidents have looked at this for 50, 60 years doing something, and it looks like I’ll be the one that does it.”
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong