US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the chances of a negotiated settlement with Cuba were “not high”, as Washington steps up pressure on the island’s Communist government. Rubio said the US would prefer a diplomatic solution.
“That remains our preference with Cuba,” he told reporters. “I’m just being honest with you, you know, the likelihood of that happening, given who we’re dealing with right now, is not high. But if they have a change of heart, you know, we’re here. And in the meantime, we’ll keep doing what we need to do.”
President Donald Trump is pushing for “regime change” in Cuba, where Communists have been in charge since Fidel Castro led a revolution in 1959.
Cuba has accepted a US offer of $100 million in humanitarian aid, Rubio said.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez accused Rubio of inciting military aggression and falsely labeling Cuba a state sponsor of terrorism.
“The US Secretary of State lies once again to instigate a military aggression that would provoke the shedding of Cuban and American blood,” Rodriguez said, adding that Cuba poses no security threat to the US.
l Thousands of Cubans gathered yesterday before the US embassy in Havana to protest a US decision to indict former president Raul Castro over the downing of two civilian airplanes 30 years ago.
The pro-government demonstration, which began shortly after sunrise on Havana’s waterfront, came as Cuban officials rallied this week around the island’s revolutionary hero.
The 94-year-old elder statesman was not present.
Cuban legislator Gerardo Hernandez, a national hero and former spy, conveyed a message thanking the Cuban people and friends around the world for their solidarity.
“As long as I live, I will remain at the forefront of the Revolution, with one foot in the stirrup,” Hernandez quoted Castro as saying.
Thousands of Cubans waved flags during the nearly hour-long rally, chanting “Viva Raul!” and “Patria o Muerte (Homeland or Death)!”.
President Miguel Diaz-Canel and Prime Minister Manuel Marrero attended the rally, as did several of Castro’s family, including daughter Mariela Castro, son Alejandro Castro and grandson Raul Rodriguez Castro.
Rodriguez Castro, known in Cuba as “Raulito” (Little Raul) or “El Cangrejo” (The Crab), often serves as his grandfather’s bodyguard and met last week with CIA Director John Ratcliffe during a rare visit by a US spy chief to Havana.
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