Marco Rubio accuses Cuba of sponsoring terrorism and hosting Chinese and Russian intelligence

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio leveled accusations against Cuba on Tuesday, alleging that the island nation "sponsors terrorism" and harbors significant intelligence-gathering facilities for China and Russia. The Cuban government has firmly rejected these claims.

Rubio, who is of Cuban descent, made these remarks during a Senate hearing. He was questioned about the U.S. administration's decision to maintain Cuba on its list of state sponsors of terrorism. The previous Biden administration had removed the island from this sanctions list shortly before leaving office, a decision that was reversed by the Trump administration upon its inauguration. Cuba has denounced this reversal as baseless.

“

Cuba has sponsored terrorism and supported various groups. For example, practically all radical leftist terrorist groups in Latin America have depended, at some point, on support from Cuba.

"Cuba has sponsored terrorism and supported various groups. For example, practically all radical leftist terrorist groups in Latin America have depended, at some point, on support from Cuba," Rubio stated. He specifically mentioned Colombian groups such as the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the FARC, along with their dissident factions, as examples of entities that have historically received Cuban backing.

“

the island continues to host a considerable amount of intelligence facilities for information gathering on behalf of China and Russia.

Furthermore, the top U.S. diplomat asserted that Cuba "continues to host a considerable amount of intelligence facilities for information gathering on behalf of China and Russia." He reiterated his stance, stating, "If you look at the region and examine all these leftist and Marxist terrorist organizations, you can see that, in many cases, Cuba has sponsored terrorism and backed those groups."

These accusations come at a time of heightened pressure from the United States on Cuba. Since the apprehension of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, the Trump administration has intensified its actions, including an oil blockade that has exacerbated Cuba's economic crisis. Washington has also issued threats regarding potential "takeovers" of the country. While some diplomatic contacts have occurred between Washington and Havana to negotiate a resolution, Cuba maintains that internal changes are solely the decision of the Cuban people and denounces alleged U.S. military aggression plans.

“

If you look at the region and examine all these leftist and Marxist terrorist organizations, you can see that, in many cases, Cuba has sponsored terrorism and backed those groups.