Agency Operations — 2026-10-25
CIA Publishes Collaboration Guide as Rubio Calls on Cubans to Partner with Agency
BLUFWashington's shift from covert contact to public solicitation of Cuban sources invites Havana to frame any future bilateral engagement as resistance to an open intelligence offensive.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote on X on Friday that "now is the time" for Cubans seeking "positive change" to pursue "a discreet partnership with the CIA"
Analysis
The CIA is running an open, multi-channel recruitment effort in Cuba, and Washington has shifted from covert contact to public solicitation. Rubio's post, the Instagram guide and the X video all steer Cubans toward self-initiated, anonymized contact, with an embassy visit preferred for those who can travel safely. Havana's reply suggests it will read the campaign as proof of US hostility, which could harden its position in talks that remain stalled. Cubans who respond face exposure risk, since the guide assumes the state is not monitoring their devices and networks. The campaign may instead aim mainly to signal resolve and sow distrust within Cuba's security apparatus before negotiations. Confidence is high: CiberCuba directly confirms the guide's content, three further outlets match on the Rubio post, and no reporting contradicts either.
The CIA is running an open, multi-channel recruitment effort in Cuba, and Washington has shifted from covert contact to public solicitation. Rubio's post, the Instagram guide and the X video all steer Cubans toward self-initiated, anonymized contact, with an embassy visit preferred for those who can travel safely. Havana's reply suggests it will read the campaign as proof of US hostility, which could harden its position in talks that remain stalled. Cubans who respond face exposure risk, since the guide assumes the state is not monitoring their devices and networks. The campaign may instead aim mainly to signal resolve and sow distrust within Cuba's security apparatus before negotiations. Confidence is high: CiberCuba directly confirms the guide's content, three further outlets match on the Rubio post, and no reporting contradicts either.
4 sources
- Rubio calls on Cubans to partner with CIA 'to create positive change' -
Al Jazeera - Rubio floats CIA 'partnership' to Cubans tired of 'failed promises, corruption' -
The Hill - CIA publishes a detailed guide for collaboration with the agency for those seeking to create positive change in Cuba -
CiberCuba - Rubio Calls On Cubans to Work With the CIA -
Political Wire