Rubio calls Cuba growing security threat
Washington, June 3
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described Cuba as both a failing state and a growing national security threat to the United States, accusing Havana of hosting Chinese and Russian intelligence operations while supporting anti-American activities across Latin America.
Speaking before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on National Security, Department of State and Related Programs, Rubio said Cuba's economic crisis and close ties with US adversaries have combined to create a significant challenge for American interests in the Western Hemisphere.
"Cuba is two things," Rubio told lawmakers. "The first thing is it's a failed state."
The Secretary argued that Cuba's economic model has collapsed under decades of mismanagement and that much of the country's economy is now controlled by military-linked entities rather than civilian institutions.
"The model that they have economically will never work," Rubio said.
According to Rubio, Cuba faces chronic shortages of fuel and electricity despite substantial assets controlled by military-run enterprises.
He said the country has also experienced a significant exodus of people over the past two decades, weakening its economy and reducing its pool of skilled workers.
"They've lost a lot of human capital as well," Rubio said.
Beyond economic concerns, Rubio argued that Cuba's strategic relationships with China and Russia present a direct security challenge to the United States.
"The Chinese, the Russians operate intelligence collection facilities targeted at the southeastern United States from the island of Cuba," Rubio said.
He added that reports of such activities have been widely documented and described Cuba as a platform for intelligence gathering and political influence operations across the region.
According to Rubio, Cuba has historically maintained ties with groups and movements that have sought to destabilise pro-American governments in Latin America.
"If you travel extensively in the Western Hemisphere, you will find that behind every disruptive element in their society designed to, for example, overthrow or pressure a pro-American government, there is a Cuban element involved," he said.
Rubio accused Havana of maintaining connections with transnational groups operating across the region, arguing that these activities continue to undermine democratic institutions and regional stability.
The administration remains willing to support humanitarian assistance for the Cuban people, provided aid reaches citizens directly rather than state-controlled entities, he said.
"We have offered to distribute $100 million of humanitarian aid through the Catholic Church and other non-governmental organisations," he said.
The Secretary argued that previous humanitarian assistance delivered through independent channels had successfully reached Cuban communities while avoiding government-controlled distribution systems.
Rubio also noted that US policy toward Cuba remains governed by statutory requirements, including provisions contained in the Helms-Burton Act, limiting the administration's flexibility in altering sanctions and broader policy measures.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Rubio is a Cuban-American himself, so he has a personal stake in this. But calling Cuba a "failed state" while millions in the US struggle with healthcare costs is ironic. The real story here is how the US treats its neighbours like pawns in a geopolitical chess game. India should learn from this - never let external powers dictate your foreign policy. 🇮🇳
While I understand the US concerns about Chinese and Russian intelligence activities in Cuba, the economic sanctions have clearly backfired. People are suffering, not the government. $100 million in humanitarian aid through the Church is a step, but it won't fix decades of policy failure. India's approach of maintaining friendly relations with all countries seems wiser.
Rubio's comments about "disruptive elements" in Latin America sound like an excuse for US-backed regime change. India has seen enough of that in our neighbourhood - the US loves talking about democracy but only when it serves their interests. Cuba's main crime is refusing to be an American puppet. 😐
To be fair, the Cuban economic model has indeed failed for its people - we see shortages and emigration similar to what some socialist experiments have faced. But the US embargo is also a huge factor. It's a complex issue. India should advocate for dialogue rather than sanctions. Helms-Burton Act is outdated - time for a new approach.
Rubio saying Cuba is behind "disruptive elements" everywhere is a bit rich considering the US has overthrown governments across Latin America for decades - Chile, Guatemala, Brazil... the list goes on. India's policy of strategic autonomy means we don't take sides.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.