Trump Orders 50-Yard Warship Stopover; Rubio Calls for Secret CIA Contact

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that American warships returning from the Iran conflict will pause approximately 50 yards off the coast of Cuba. The declaration came at a campaign rally in south Florida, where the president described a new protocol for vessels transiting the region. Rubio, in a social media post the same day, invited Cubans to establish a private connection with the US intelligence community.

Trump stated that ships would stop briefly on their return from Iran. He described the operation as a 'little stopover' where crew members would raise their hands. The president said he would then send Secretary of State Marco Rubio to 'finish up the deal.' This marks the first time Trump has detailed this specific naval maneuver since mentioning the concept earlier in the year.

Rubio addressed the Cuban public directly, calling for those who want 'positive change' to act now. He cited corruption and failed promises as reasons for the push. He suggested a 'discrete partnership with the CIA,' a phrasing that likely intended 'discreet,' meaning secret, rather than separate. Rubio’s parents emigrated from Cuba before the socialist revolution took power.

Havana responded with skepticism. Deputy foreign minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio posted on X that the US was engaging in 'public recruitment for the CIA.' He characterized the move as a sign of desperation within the agency. The comment came days before midterm elections, where voters are weighing the impact of the Iran war on domestic prices for gas and groceries.

The administration has maintained a hardline stance on Cuba. Trump previously suggested the island would be next for intervention after Iran. In May, he and Rubio discussed the possibility of military action, a threat that gained weight after the US charged former leader Raul Castro with crimes. Trump told reporters he expects to be the president who intervenes, noting that earlier leaders had considered it for decades.

Diplomatic efforts have been inconsistent. Rubio told Fox News in September that 'Cuba has already fallen,' describing the economy as nonfunctional. While the US and Cuba have met to explore better relations, Washington followed those talks with additional sanctions. The two governments clashed at the United Nations earlier this week over an upcoming vote condemning the US economic embargo.

Cuba has faced an economic and energy crisis since 2020. The island’s gross domestic product has shrunk, and its 10 million residents have endured blackouts and food shortages. Hundreds of thousands have emigrated, with many moving to the United States. Trump’s announcement places a physical US military presence on the water near the island for the first time in this administration.