Trump Vows Naval Pressure on Cuba After Iran, Rubio Calls for CIA Cooperation

President Donald Trump declared that the United States will address Cuba immediately following its engagement with Iran, outlining a strategy that combines naval intimidation with covert intelligence operations. Speaking at a rally in Fort Myers, Florida, Trump described a scenario where US warships returning from the Middle East would stop within 50 yards (45 meters) of the Cuban coast. He predicted that Cuban officials would "raise their hands" in surrender, after which Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be deployed to "close the agreement." This rhetoric serves as both a campaign promise to Florida’s Cuban-American voters ahead of the midterms and a signal of escalating pressure on Havana.

The diplomatic offensive is coordinated closely between the White House and the State Department. Shortly after Trump’s speech, Rubio posted on X, urging Cubans seeking "positive change" to engage in a "discreet collaboration with the CIA." The CIA subsequently released instructions for secure communication, advising potential contacts to use private networks and temporary email accounts. General Francis L. Donovan, commander of US Southern Command, echoed this sentiment, stating that "the future of Cuba belongs to those who act" and calling for an end to corruption and elite privilege.

Washington’s leverage has been significantly strengthened by a petroleum blockade imposed in January, which cut off Cuba’s primary fuel supply from Venezuela following the US capture of Nicolás Maduro. This embargo has exacerbated Cuba’s existing energy crisis, leading to widespread blackouts and shortages. Additionally, the US recently announced arrest warrants against former President Raúl Castro for his role in the 1996 shootdown of civilian planes, further isolating the Cuban leadership legally.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez firmly rejected these threats. Díaz-Canel accused the US of harboring "ambitions of domination," while Rodríguez warned that Cuban waters contain "diente de perro" (sharp limestone rocks), describing them as inhospitable to hostile intentions. Despite the heated rhetoric, Trump previously stated he did not believe military action was necessary, suggesting instead that economic strangulation would force internal regime change.