US escalates pressure on Cuba: US Secretary Rubio calls communist system ‘broken’; Havana denies posing any threat to US security

A fresh diplomatic flashpoint has emerged between the United States and Cuba after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio targeted Havana’s communist leadership, declaring Cuba’s political and economic system “broken” and incapable of reform under its current rulers.

Rubio’s remarks came even as a high-level US delegation led by CIA chief John Ratcliffe travelled to Havana for rare security talks with Cuban officials, underscoring the sharp contradictions shaping Washington’s approach towards the island nation.

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The unusually direct criticism from Rubio signals a tougher American posture towards Cuba at a time when tensions are already escalating over sanctions, migration, intelligence activity and Havana’s continued designation on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Rubio says Cuba ‘broken’ under current leadership

Speaking in an interview with NBC on Thursday, Rubio argued that Cubans have succeeded globally but remain trapped by a failed governing system at home.

“Cubans are successful everywhere in the world except one place: Cuba,” Rubio said, asserting that the island’s current model “doesn’t work” and “will never change” as long as the present leadership remains in power.

The top US diplomat also accused Cuba’s rulers of resisting reform and “digging in” instead of acknowledging the need for sweeping political and economic changes.

Rubio’s comments are likely to further strain already fragile relations between Washington and Havana, particularly as the Trump administration intensifies sanctions and pressure campaigns against the Caribbean nation.

CIA Director Ratcliffe holds talks in Havana

Amid the escalating rhetoric, CIA Director Ratcliffe led a US delegation to Cuba on May 14 for talks with officials from Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior.

In a statement, the Cuban government said the visit took place after a formal request from Washington and was authorised by Cuba’s “Directorate of the Revolution.”

Havana said the meeting was a part of efforts to preserve political dialogue despite the “complexity of bilateral relations.”

According to Cuban authorities, officials used the talks to present evidence aimed at proving that Cuba poses no threat to US national security and should not remain on Washington’s terrorism blacklist.

The Cuban government said it categorically rejects terrorism and does not “harbour, support, finance or permit terrorist or extremist organisations.” It also denied hosting foreign military or intelligence bases or supporting hostile operations against the United States.

Both sides reportedly expressed interest in strengthening cooperation between law enforcement and security agencies on regional and international security matters.

The CIA later shared photographs on X showing Ratcliffe meeting Cuban officials during the Havana visit.

Trump called Cuba a ‘failed country’

The diplomatic engagement comes against the backdrop of increasingly aggressive rhetoric from US President Donald Trump, who recently called Cuba a “failed country” seeking American assistance amid worsening economic turmoil.

In a Truth Social post, Trump said the United States was preparing for talks with Cuba while simultaneously criticising the island’s leadership.

The remarks followed a broader hardening of US policy towards Havana, including expanded sanctions targeting Cuban officials, state-linked entities and groups accused of supporting the country’s security apparatus.

Earlier this month, Trump also made headlines after declaring at a Florida event that the United States would “take over” Cuba “almost immediately,” though no official military action has been announced.

A subsequent White House statement accused the Cuban government of posing an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the United States and condemned Havana’s policies as incompatible with democratic values.

Cuba rejects sanctions, calls US measures illegal

Cuba has strongly condemned the latest sanctions imposed by Washington, calling them “unilateral coercive measures” designed to inflict “collective punishment” on the Cuban people.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez accused the United States of violating international law and the United Nations Charter through what he described as extraterritorial actions targeting Cuba and third-party entities.

The Cuban government maintains that the US embargo and tightening sanctions are worsening the island’s severe economic crisis, marked by shortages of fuel, food and medicine.