Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a stark warning on Thursday about the national security threat posed by Cuba, stressing that it is "absolutely something we will focus on, because this concerns America."
In statements shared on X by the official "Rapid Response 47 from the Trump administration" account, Rubio clearly articulated Washington's stance: the proximity of Cuba and a potential collapse on the island could directly impact the United States with a wave of migration, violence, and instability.
Rubio emphasized, "Cuba is just 90 miles from our shores. If they experience a systemic collapse, which is where they're headed, we'll be affected by the migration crisis and any violence and instability that occurs there. It directly involves U.S. national interests."
The official did not mince words, labeling the Cuban model as a "failed state." He stated, "Their economic system is broken. It doesn't work. And you can't fix it with the current political system in place. They simply don't know how to make it work."
One of his sharpest criticisms was directed at GAESA, the military-business conglomerate controlling about 70% of Cuba's economy. "They have a private military company called GAESA with $18 billion in assets, none of which goes into the state budget or helps the Cuban people," Rubio declared.
He linked this concentration of wealth to the island's ongoing energy crisis. Despite receiving free Venezuelan oil for years, Cuba "hasn't spent a dime fixing its energy production or grid," as "they've stolen the money and haven't invested in their energy infrastructure."
To those suggesting that U.S. policy equates to intervention, Rubio was unequivocal: "This is not nation-building. We are addressing something directly related to U.S. national security."
Regarding a potential agreement with the regime, he acknowledged that President Trump's preference is always for a "peaceful, negotiated agreement," but admitted the likelihood of achieving this with the current regime is "not high."
In another segment shared on X, Rubio touched on the federal criminal charge against Raúl Castro announced by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche in Miami. "Raúl Castro openly admits and boasts about ordering the downing of civilian planes," he noted, referencing a 1996 audio recording central to the charges.
When asked how he plans to bring Castro to U.S. justice, Rubio replied, "I'm not going to discuss how we'll bring him here. If there's an announcement, I'll tell you after, not before."
These statements came a day after the Secretary of State sent a video message to the Cuban people for Independence Day, asserting, "Cuba is not controlled by any revolution. Cuba is controlled by GAESA."
The regime responded with threats, as Deputy Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío warned of "fierce resistance" to any Washington action, while Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez labeled Rubio a "spokesperson for corrupt and vengeful interests."
Rubio also confirmed that CIA Director John Ratcliffe had traveled to Havana "a few weeks ago" and that the U.S. ambassador recently met with Cuban officials. However, he dismissed any notion that these contacts have yielded genuine signs of openness from the regime.
"The future of Cuba belongs to the Cuban people regarding how they are governed, what their system is, etc. But the national security threat, that's 100% something we're going to focus on because it's about America," concluded the Secretary of State.
Key Questions on U.S. National Security and Cuba
Why does Marco Rubio consider Cuba a national security threat?
Marco Rubio considers Cuba a national security threat due to its proximity to the U.S. and the potential for a systemic collapse that could lead to migration crises, violence, and instability affecting American interests.
What is GAESA and why is it significant?
GAESA is a military-business conglomerate in Cuba controlling about 70% of the economy. Rubio criticizes it for holding $18 billion in assets without contributing to the state budget or aiding the Cuban populace.
What are Rubio's views on a negotiated agreement with Cuba?
Rubio suggests that while President Trump prefers a peaceful, negotiated agreement, the chances of achieving such an outcome with the current Cuban regime are low.