Marco Rubio labels Cuba an espionage and influence superpower

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has characterized Cuba as an “influence and espionage superpower,” despite the nation's economic struggles and paralyzed energy and healthcare systems. Speaking in an interview, Rubio noted that Cuba has systematically integrated spies into the United States, citing the cases of former ambassador Víctor Manuel Rocha and former intelligence analyst Ana Belén Montes as primary examples.

This assessment comes amid intensified economic pressure from the Trump administration, which has threatened tariffs on nations supplying oil to the Cuban government. While the administration asserts its right to use military power to secure interests in the Western Hemisphere, Rubio highlighted the sophisticated nature of Cuban influence operations.