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Rubio calls on Cubans to partner with CIA ‘to create positive change’

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Al Jazeera Staff. (2026, October 24). Rubio calls on Cubans to partner with CIA ‘to create positive change’. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/24/rubio-calls-on-cubans-to-partner-with-cia-to-create-positive-change?traffic_source=rss

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Al Jazeera · collected 2026-10-24 · by Al Jazeera Staff

Quick Summary

Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, urged Cubans to collaborate with the CIA to bring about change in Cuba's government, suggesting a partnership that some see as a precursor to intervention. This call was met with mockery by Cuban officials who criticized the desperation implied by such an open recruitment for intelligence activities. The context includes ongoing economic hardships in Cuba due to a U.S.-imposed oil blockade and increased pressure from Washington on Havana, reflecting a long-standing tension between the two nations.
Written by AI on 2026-10-24, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

Summary

On October 23, 2026, US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio took aggressive steps towards potential military intervention and regime change in Cuba. During a campaign rally in Fort Myers, Florida, Trump announced plans to address the Cuban situation after dealing with Iran, stating that Washington would "take care of Cuba" and send Rubio there to complete negotiations. Rubio responded on social media by calling on Cubans seeking positive change to partner discreetly with the CIA.

Rubio's call was met with skepticism and mockery from Cuban officials, who perceived it as a desperate attempt to gather intelligence within their country. Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio criticized the move, suggesting that the CIA must be in dire straits if it needs to recruit publicly. Additionally, the growing economic pressure on Cuba due to US sanctions has led to severe shortages of basic goods and medical care.

The Trump administration's rhetoric and actions mark a significant escalation in tensions between the United States and Cuba, with potential far-reaching implications for regional stability and diplomatic relations. The situation reflects the ongoing efforts by Washington to undermine the Cuban government through various political, economic, and covert means. Cuban officials view these developments as aggressive and threatening moves towards regime change. Additionally, the call for discreet partnerships with the CIA has sparked widespread criticism and skepticism both in Cuba and internationally.

This series of events underscores a complex geopolitical landscape where diplomatic tensions are heightened by economic pressures and the potential for military intervention. The situation remains highly volatile, with significant consequences for the Cuban population and regional dynamics. Cuban officials have emphasized their stance against any form of US interference or use of force against Cuba, viewing such actions as illegal and unjustified.

The repeated calls to destabilize Cuba's government through covert operations highlight a concerning trend in international relations, raising questions about the legitimacy and ethical considerations of regime change policies. The situation continues to evolve with heightened tensions on both sides. Cuban officials are wary of these developments and have called for dialogue and respect for sovereignty rather than aggressive interventions.

Key Quotes

Written for “Cuba Policy Debates In South Florida” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 10 other(s) covering the same event.

Story

📰 Cuba Policy Debates In South Florida
Politics · 11 article(s) covering the same event. Compare every outlet's account →

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 0% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.
CBS News
⚖️ Leans left Hedges 0 of 15 claims Outlet record 66/100
The Hindu
Hedges 1 of 22 claims Outlet record 77/100
Al Jazeera
⚖️ Leans left Hedges 0 of 3 claims Outlet record 60/100
Times of India
⚖️ Leans strongly right Hedges 3 of 18 claims Outlet record 59/100
The Straits Times
Hedges 0 of 12 claims Outlet record 66/100
Washington Examiner
Hedges 0 of 2 claims Outlet record 70/100
Toronto Star
⚖️ Centre Hedges 0 of 2 claims Outlet record 64/100
“The articles describe different events: one is about a clash at the UN regarding the economic embargo, and the other is about Rubio's call for partnering with the CIA to create change in Cuba.”
CBC News
Hedges 3 of 28 claims Outlet record 60/100
“Article A describes Trump's comments at a rally about U.S. warships potentially stopping over in Cuba, while Article B discusses Marco Rubio calling on Cubans to partner with the CIA for change and hints of military intervention by US officials.”
The Hindu
Hedges 0 of 7 claims Outlet record 77/100
“Article A reports on Trump's announcement at a rally about handling Cuba after Iran, while Article B covers Rubio's separate call to partner with CIA for change in Cuba.”
ABC News (US)
Hedges 2 of 19 claims Outlet record 70/100
“The articles describe two distinct events: one involving Marco Rubio's call for Cubans to partner with the CIA and another involving a shouting match between Mike Waltz and Cuban delegates at the UN.”
How this article was measured signals, leaning charts, publisher record, byline, topics and claims

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted
9
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
0%
0 of 9 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
withheld
no quote in the article backed the model's score
Publisher signals
60/100
Al Jazeera's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
11
Politics
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
Analyzed 2026-10-24 · how these are computed

How this is being covered How these are calculated →

Article leaning vs. publisher reliability
Source leaning vs. consistency

Publisher

Al Jazeera · 4571 article(s) · 2 correction(s) detected
Running correction rate · 2 correction(s)

Who wrote this

Al Jazeera Staff
797 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction
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Wire or desk byline, not an individual reporter.
Also by Al Jazeera Staff
Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.
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Topics

4Cuba CIA Cuba Cuban United States

Subjects

Cuba GPE · 8× CIA ORG · 4× 4Cuba GPE · 2× Cuban NORP · 2× Rubio PERSON · 2× Donald Trump PERSON · 1× Latin American NORP · 1× Marco Rubio PERSON · 1× State ORG · 1× United States GPE · 1×

Narrative

There must be a great deal of desperation or misery within the agency for it to be forced to sell its services like a tube of toothpaste,” he wrote on X. This is far from the first time Cuba has been threatened with military intervention by US officials. Last month, Fernandez de Cossio told the US cable television channel C-SPAN’s flagship programme, Washington Journal, that it would be an “atrocious international crime for the US to use military force against Cuba, which is a peaceful neighbouring country”. The CIA later uploaded a video on X offering instructions in Spanish for those who believe they have information of interest to the intelligence agency, encouraging them to first and foremost visit an official “US embassy in person” if they can safely travel to one.
framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-24
🔮 There must be a great deal of desperation or misery within the agency for it to be forced to sell its services like a tube of toothpaste,” he wrote on X. This is far from the first time Cuba has been threatened with military intervention by US officials. Last month, Fernandez de Cossio told the US cable television channel C-SPAN’s flagship programme, Washington Journal, that it would be an “atrocious international crime for the US to use military force against Cuba, which is a peaceful neighbouring country”. The CIA later uploaded a video on X offering instructions in Spanish for those who believe they have information of interest to the intelligence agency, encouraging them to first and foremost visit an official “US embassy in person” if they can safely travel to one.

Claims (9 extracted, 0 hedged)

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called on those seeking change in Cuba to partner with the CIA and help force an end to the island’s communist government. asserted
Rubio → call → government
US President Donald Trump and other senior US officials have for months openly hinted at military intervention and permanent presence in Cuba to ramp up economic, political, and legal pressure on the country. asserted
Trump → hint → country
Recommended Stories list of 4 items- list 1 of 4Cuba forges ahead with renewable energy plans amid US oil blockade - list 2 of 4Why are Latin American countries building closer ties with Israel? - list 3 of 4Florida issues arrest warrant for Cuban leader Raul Castro - list 4 of 4Cuba accuses US of threatening countries ahead of UN embargo vote On Friday, Rubio seemed to openly confirm this when he wrote on X: “To those who seek to create positive change in Cuba – now is the time.” asserted
time → forge → Cuba
Rubio commented on “the disappointment of failed promises, corruption, and the privileged lives of only a few” in Cuba, encouraging civilians to “seize this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discreet partnership with the CIA”. asserted
you → comment → CIA
The call was mocked by Cuban officials, including Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio. “Now the United States is resorting to public recruitment for the CIA… asserted
States → mock → CIA
There must be a great deal of desperation or misery within the agency for it to be forced to sell its services like a tube of toothpaste,” he wrote on X. This is far from the first time Cuba has been threatened with military intervention by US officials. Last month, Fernandez de Cossio told the US cable television channel C-SPAN’s flagship programme, Washington Journal, that it would be an “atrocious international crime for the US to use military force against Cuba, which is a peaceful neighbouring country”. The CIA later uploaded a video on X offering instructions in Spanish for those who believe they have information of interest to the intelligence agency, encouraging them to first and foremost visit an official “US embassy in person” if they can safely travel to one. asserted
they → force → one
These latest developments come as a US-imposed oil blockade on Cuba earlier this year has put civilians in the country under intense economic hardship, as they contend with fuel shortages and blackouts exacerbated by failing infrastructure. asserted
they → come → infrastructure
United Nations rights experts have condemned the oil blockade as a violation of international law, while rights advocates say the Trump administration’s threats have echoed an imperialist approach. asserted
threats → condemn → approach
Washington has maintained an embargo on Cuba for more than 60 years, as the Trump administration steps up pressure on Havana following the US military’s capture of Venezuelan then-President Nicolas Maduro in a deadly raid in January. asserted
administration → maintain → January
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