Trump details 50-yard naval halt off Cuba while Rubio urges secret CIA contact

United States warships will stop 50 yards from the Cuban coast, President Donald Trump told a rally in south Florida on Friday. The President described the vessels as pausing during their return from the Iran conflict. He stated that the ships would raise their hands as a signal before he sent Secretary of State Marco Rubio to finalize an agreement.

Rubio issued a public appeal to Cubans on social media shortly after the rally. He addressed those seeking positive change in the island nation. He cited corruption and the privileged lives of a few as reasons for dissatisfaction. The Secretary encouraged residents to create change through a discrete partnership with the CIA. He likely intended to use the word discreet to mean private or secret.

Trump first proposed the naval stopover earlier this year but had not mentioned it in recent months. He revived the idea after a crowd member asked about the island. The rally took place days before the midterm elections. Voters at the event expressed concern over how the Iran war affected prices for gas and groceries.

The Cuban government reacted with sarcasm on Friday. Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio posted on X that the US was resorting to public recruitment for the CIA. He wrote that the agency must be desperate to sell its services like a tube of toothpaste.

The administration has maintained an aggressive posture toward Havana since May. Trump and Rubio raised the prospect of military action after the government announced criminal charges against former leader Raul Castro. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that previous presidents considered intervention for decades but that he would be the one to execute it. Rubio argued that Cuba poses a national security threat due to its ties with US adversaries.

Rubio did not mention a CIA operation in a September 29 interview on Fox News. He told host Sean Hannity that Cuba has already fallen. He described the country as lacking a functional economy and being run by leaders preaching a dead revolution. He said the US would not allow Cuba to become a base of operations against American interests.

Diplomatic efforts have been inconsistent in recent months. Senior aides met with Cuban officials to explore better relations, but the US side remained unimpressed. Additional sanctions followed those meetings. Trump told reporters last month that he expected a deal and did not think the military would be needed. However, the two governments clashed at the United Nations earlier this week over an upcoming vote condemning the US economic embargo.

Cuba has faced an economic and energy crisis since 2020. The country's gross domestic product has shrunk. Its 10 million residents have endured blackouts, food shortages, and inflation. Hundreds of thousands of Cubans have emigrated, with many moving to the United States.