The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, stated this Monday that Cuba "needs a very drastic change" and that the situation on the island is "a completely different case" compared to Venezuela, during a teleconference with journalists in which he answered questions about his recent call for Cubans to collaborate with the CIA.
"We believe that Cuba needs a very drastic change, and this is a completely different case from Venezuela. The situation is very different, and I will leave it at that," said Rubio, without providing details on what this distinction entails or what specific measures Washington is considering for the island.
The statement came days after Rubio himself posted a message on his social media directed at those seeking to transform Cuba: "In light of the disappointment over broken promises, corruption, and the privileges of a few, seize this opportunity to achieve the change you desire through a discreet collaboration with the CIA".
When asked why he was appealing to a contact with the intelligence agency instead of promoting peaceful avenues, Rubio curtly replied, "I can't answer that," according to the agency AFP.
The comparison with Venezuela has a specific political background. This Monday, Rubio confirmed that Washington negotiated with the Venezuelan government of Delcy Rodríguez the return of opposition leader María Corina Machado, as part of a roadmap that includes elections for 2027.
With Cuba, on the other hand, the Secretary of State has not pointed out equivalent interlocutors nor a structured negotiation process with the regime of Miguel Díaz-Canel.
The statement from Monday is part of a sustained escalation of U.S. pressure on the island throughout 2026, which intensified after the capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. military forces on January 3, depriving Havana of its main regional ally.
Last Friday, President Donald Trump stated at a rally in Fort Myers, Florida, that the United States "will take care of Cuba" upon his return from Iran and that he would send Rubio to "close the deal."
Hours after Rubio's message on social media, the CIA published a guide for Cubans to contact them safely, and Southern Command issued its own call: "Seize the moment and create the change you wish to see."
In terms of sanctions, in the middle of this month, Rubio announced measures against the Cuban bank BICSA, claiming that Cuba hosts Iranian military and intelligence operations less than 100 miles from U.S. territory. Days earlier, on October 5, he had warned the regime's leaders that they would need to change course or "learn the lesson the hard way."
In August, Rubio had acknowledged that it was unrealistic to dismantle a system entrenched for seven decades in a short period, but he set the goal for Cuba to be on an "irreversible path toward a different future" before the end of Trump's term.
Monday's statement does not alter that position or announce specific measures: it is a political assertion that emphasizes the distinction between the two cases without explaining it, and which Rubio himself chose not to elaborate on before the press.
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