Rubio says Cuba is threat to US as Havana accuses him of 'lies'

May 22, 2026

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared Cuba a national security threat and expressed pessimism about reaching a diplomatic resolution with the island nation, despite stating that negotiation remains Washington's preferred approach. These remarks followed criminal charges filed against former Cuban President Raúl Castro for his alleged role in the 1996 shooting down of civilian aircraft that killed American citizens. Cuba's government has strongly rejected Rubio's accusations, with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez denying any threat to US security and accusing American officials of attempting to provoke military conflict.

Who is affected

Cuba's government and leadership, particularly former President Raúl Castro (facing murder charges)
Cuban citizens experiencing fuel crisis, blackouts, and food shortages
US nationals killed in the 1996 plane downing and their families
Cuban-American community in Florida, particularly Miami
Adys Lastres Morera (arrested sister of Cuban military official)
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump
Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez

What action is being taken

The US has charged former Cuban President Raúl Castro with murder over the 1996 plane downings
The US has arrested Adys Lastres Morera and is holding her pending deportation proceedings
Cuba has accepted a US offer of $100 million in humanitarian aid
The Trump administration is exerting pressure on Cuba through an effective oil blockade
The US is demanding political and economic reforms from Cuba

Why it matters

This situation represents a significant escalation in US-Cuba relations that could lead to military confrontation or major geopolitical shifts in the Caribbean region. The criminal charges against Castro mark an unprecedented legal action against Cuba's former leadership, similar to the Trump administration's approach with Venezuelan President Maduro. Cuba's severe humanitarian crisis, combined with aggressive US pressure tactics, creates potential for either regime change or dangerous conflict. The outcome could reshape decades of US-Cuba relations and affect broader hemispheric stability, particularly given concerns about Russian and Chinese intelligence presence on the island.

What's next

The US expects Raúl Castro to appear in court "by his own will or another way," though Rubio declined to specify methods for bringing him to the US. President Trump stated his administration is attempting to help Cuba "on a humanitarian basis" and suggested he might be the president to finally resolve the long-standing US-Cuba tensions. Trump mentioned that Cuban-Americans "want to go back to their country" to help Cuba succeed.

Read full article from source: BBC