Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Cubans who want change to quietly work with the Central Intelligence Agency, and the agency backed him up in public.
Story Snapshot
- Rubio urged Cubans to seek a “discreet partnership” with the Central Intelligence Agency on October 23, 2026.
- The Central Intelligence Agency amplified the call and shared Spanish-language guidance on how to make contact.
- The guidance listed in-person and online contact options and what details to include.
- Cuban officials dismissed the move as a public recruitment stunt.
Rubio’s Open Call And The Central Intelligence Agency’s Public Reply
Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X that “now is the time” for Cubans who want “positive change” to connect with the Central Intelligence Agency through a “discreet partnership.” He framed Cuba’s rulers as living well while the public faces broken promises and corruption. The Central Intelligence Agency did not leave the appeal hanging. It reposted and replied in Spanish, pushing a video with steps to contact the agency and an invite aimed at people with valuable information.
To those who seek to create positive change in Cuba – now is the time.
The disappointment of failed promises, corruption, and the privileged lives of only a few; seize this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discrete partnership with the CIA.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) October 23, 2026
Rubio’s phrasing leaned into urgency and agency. He asked Cubans who see a chance to do something to step forward. The Central Intelligence Agency’s decision to echo the message put official weight behind the idea and widened the audience. That choice also signaled that Washington wants to hear from people on the island who hold access or insight, not only from street activists. The message targeted those who could feed intelligence streams, not just slogans.
How The Contact Would Work, According To The Guidance
The agency’s instructions described three routes. First, meet at a United States facility if it is safe to do so. Second, send a trusted person to pass a message. Third, use the Central Intelligence Agency website with a secure setup: private browser, non-personal device, a network you do not usually use, and a burner email. The guide asked for the sender’s city and country, job, level of access to sought information, and a safe way to reply. It warned that not every message gets a response.
The safety notes were blunt. The guide said security services or other parties might still see which sites a person visits, even if the page itself is encrypted. It urged senders to judge their own risk and act with care. That candor matches long-known truths about surveillance and the stakes for sources in hostile environments. It also shows why practical tradecraft, not blind faith in apps, matters in real life.
Why This Move Lands With Such Historic Weight
The United States has mixed public messaging, exile networks, and covert work around Cuba for more than six decades. The Central Intelligence Agency has documented its own Bay of Pigs history and related planning that leaned on recruiting Cuban exiles and shaping sentiment on and off the island. The line between persuasion and clandestine collection has often blurred. Rubio’s call fits that long pattern, though it uses modern social media instead of shortwave radio or leaflets.
Public appeals from an intelligence service are unusual but not random. They can widen the pool of would-be sources and flag interest to insiders who watch every signal. They also create a channel for someone who lacks contacts but holds access to real information. That said as a single sentence of context, the published reports do not identify any named Cuban respondent or confirmed result from this campaign at this time.
Pushback From Havana And The Political Frame In Washington
A senior Cuban diplomat mocked the push as open recruitment and cast it as a sign of weakness. That remark tried to paint the campaign as theater, not tradecraft. The clash over labels will not change one hard fact: any Cuban who tries to contact a foreign spy service will weigh personal risk, family safety, and the chance to make a difference. That calculus, not the rhetoric, decides whether messages are sent.
Rubio’s appeal mirrors a wider policy stance. The administration has pressed Havana on repression and regional meddling. Many American conservatives will see the Central Intelligence Agency’s outreach as common sense: help people who can help free their country. They will also judge the move by results that serve clear U.S. interests—better intelligence, pressure on a hostile regime, and a path to dignity for Cubans who want out from under a one-party state.
Sources:
cbsnews.com, verity.news, afp.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com, thehill.com, riotimesonline.com, cia.gov, history.state.gov
