US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that Cuba poses a threat to US national security and the prospects for a peaceful settlement are not bright, writes the British broadcaster BBC.
Rubio’s statements came a day after the US charged former Cuban President Raúl Castro with murder in connection with the 1996 shooting down of two airliners that killed US citizens.
The US secretary of state indicated that Americans would prefer a diplomatic solution, but warned that US President Donald Trump has the right and duty to protect his country from any threat. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez accused Rubio of lying and said that Cuba has never posed a threat to the US.
Speaking to reporters on the 21st of May, Rubio said that, to be completely frank, the chances of resolving the differences diplomatically are slim, especially given the need for negotiations. He accused Cuba of being one of the main sponsors of terrorism in the region. In turn,
the Cuban minister criticized Rubio for inciting military aggression,
saying that the US government is ruthlessly and systematically attacking his country.
Cuba is currently struggling with a fuel crisis, which is aggravated by a US-imposed naval blockade that prevents fuel supplies to the island. The Cuban population has been experiencing prolonged power outages for several months, and there is also a shortage of food. Rubio said that Cuba has accepted 100 million dollars in humanitarian aid from the US.
Trump has repeatedly sought to find ways to put pressure on Cuba, and has also talked about overthrowing the communist regime. The indictment of the former Cuban president is reminiscent of the January capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the Americans. Asked if and how his government would bring Castro to the United States for trial, Rubio said he would not discuss bringing the former president to stand trial, adding that if the Americans tried to capture Castro, he would not tell the media.
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