US Secretary of State Marco Rubio States Cuba Poses National Security Threat; Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Denies Claims

Kathmandu. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that Cuba poses a 'national security threat' to the United States and that the possibility of a peaceful agreement is 'not high'. Rubio's strong remarks came a day after the US filed a lawsuit against former Cuban President Raul Castro on charges of killing American citizens by shooting down two planes in 1996.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Rubio stated that Washington's priority is 'diplomatic solution' but warned that President Donald Trump has the right and responsibility to protect his country from any threat. He also accused Cuba of being one of the 'major sponsors of terrorism' in the region. Meanwhile, Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has called Rubio's claims 'lies' and clarified that his country has never threatened the US. Rodriguez accused on social media platform X that Rubio is trying to incite military attack and is brutally attacking Cuba.

Currently, Cuba is suffering from a severe fuel crisis, food shortages, and prolonged 'blackouts'. According to Rubio, Cuba has accepted $100 million in humanitarian aid offered by the US. President Trump has been continuously increasing pressure on Cuba and openly discussing the overthrow of its communist regime. The charges against former President Castro have been compared by some to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro last January.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche expressed confidence that Castro would appear in the US, either voluntarily or through other means. Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, President Trump called Cuba a 'failed state'. He mentioned that his administration is trying to help on humanitarian grounds and claimed that he would accomplish what other presidents have been watching for the past 50-60 years.