Cuba’s foreign minister has launched a direct public attack on Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accusing him of inventing claims about a national security threat to justify military aggression.
Bruno Rodriguez posted on X Thursday, stating that Rubio “lies once again to instigate a military aggression that would provoke the shedding of Cuban and American blood.”
Rubio, speaking to reporters ahead of a trip to Sweden and India, alleged that Cuba hosts Russian and Chinese intelligence operations and has acquired weapons from both countries.
He also described Cuba as a longstanding state sponsor of terrorism, repeating characterisations the Trump administration has used to escalate pressure on Havana throughout 2026.
Rubio’s comments came one day after former Cuban president Raul Castro was indicted in the United States on a murder charge related to the 1996 downing of civilian aircraft over the Florida Straits.
Rodriguez rejected the framing entirely, arguing that it is Washington that has been aggressing the Cuban people through fuel import restrictions and an extraterritorial economic blockade.
Senator Ruben Gallego of Arizona, a combat veteran, accused Republicans of manufacturing a pretext for regime change war, drawing parallels to past US military interventions.
Trump has previously said Cuba is “next” in line for targeted US action, following the January military operation against Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, a Cuban ally.
Russia has since pledged active support for Havana according to reports, blasting what Moscow described as an American sanctions stranglehold on the island.
With the Iran conflict ongoing and a potential Cuba operation looming in Washington’s calculations, the Caribbean crisis is becoming one of the administration’s most volatile foreign policy fronts.
