Tensions between the United States and Cuba escalated after Washington accused Havana of threatening US national security.
Marco Rubio said Cuba remains a “national security threat” to the United States and warned that the chances of reaching a peaceful agreement with Havana were “not high.”
Rubio made the comments one day after the US charged former Cuban leader Raúl Castro over the 1996 downing of two planes, an incident that killed four people, including US citizens.
Speaking to reporters, Rubio said diplomacy remained Washington’s preferred option but added that President Donald Trump had a duty to protect the country from any threat. He also accused Cuba of supporting terrorism across the region.
Cuba quickly rejected the claims. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla accused Rubio of spreading “lies” and attempting to provoke military aggression against the island nation.
The diplomatic standoff comes as Cuba faces severe economic pressure, including fuel shortages, blackouts and food supply problems worsened by US sanctions and an effective oil blockade. The Trump administration has also increased sanctions on Cuban officials and state-linked businesses.
Rubio later announced the arrest of Adys Lastres Morera, the sister of a senior Cuban military-linked business official, alleging she was supporting Cuba’s communist government while living in Florida.
President Trump also described Cuba as a “failed country” and suggested his administration could play a major role in reshaping relations with the island.
The latest exchange signals growing tensions between Washington and Havana as political pressure and legal actions continue to intensify.
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