The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, published an unprecedented message this Friday on his verified X account, @SecRubio, in which he openly called on Cubans seeking to "create positive change" on the island to seize the moment through a "discreet partnership with the CIA."
"For those looking to create positive change in Cuba: now is the time. The disappointment from broken promises, corruption, and the privileged lives of a few; take this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discreet partnership with the CIA," Rubio wrote in the post, which garnered over 100,000 views in just a few hours.
The message is historically unusual: it breaks with the diplomatic norm of keeping intelligence operations out of the official public discourse and represents the first time a U.S. Secretary of State has made an open call for the recruitment of agents in a foreign country through social media.
To those who seek to create positive change in Cuba - now is the time. The Cuban-American Congressman Carlos A. Giménez, the only member of Congress born in Cuba, immediately responded with his support: “I am eternally grateful for your leadership. The regime in Havana must be relegated to the dustbin of history, and I know that day is closer than ever.”
The tweet from Rubio arrived hours after President Donald Trump stated at a rally in Fort Myers, Florida, that U.S. military ships would "pass by Cuba" on their return from Iran and that he would send the Secretary of State to "seal the deal" with the island.
“Let’s send Marco Rubio to finalize the agreement. We will have Marco. Marco,” said Trump to his supporters, according to reports this Friday.
Rubio's public call is part of a sustained escalation of U.S. pressure on Cuba throughout 2026.
In May, the CIA director, John Ratcliffe, made a surprise visit to Havana where he met with the Cuban Minister of the Interior Lázaro Álvarez Casas and with Raúl Castro's grandson, conveying a message from Trump that demanded "fundamental changes" as a condition for any dialogue, according to Reuters and France24.
In August, the New York Times revealed that the CIA had established a special secret force dedicated exclusively to Cuba, classified as "Priority 1" on the same level as China, Iran, and Russia, with the aim of exploiting divisions within the Cuban political elite.
On October 15, Rubio announced sanctions against the Cuban bank BICSA, accusing the dictatorship of harboring Iranian military and intelligence operations less than 100 miles from U.S. territory.
In September, Rubio himself had warned that some members of the Cuban regime had "blood-stained hands" and would not be acceptable interlocutors, while certain technocrats could participate in a potential transition.
This Friday's call directly addresses the discontent with the regime's leadership by explicitly mentioning "failed promises, corruption, and the privileged lives of a few." It signals a new phase in Washington's strategy: combining military pressure, economic sanctions, intelligence operations, and now a public appeal for the recruitment of agents within the island.
On October 5, Rubio had already warned that Cuban leaders would need to change course or “learn the lesson the hard way”, a message that is now complemented by this direct call to the Cuban citizenry.
Related videos:
Filed under: