Rubio: Washington Prefers Negotiated Settlement with Cuba but Chances Are "Slim"

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the United States prefers to resolve its relations with Cuba through peaceful means and negotiations, while acknowledging that the chances of achieving this seem "slim".

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Rubio said, "President Donald Trump always prefers to reach peaceful agreements through negotiation, and this remains our consistent priority. The same applies to Cuba."

He added, "But to speak frankly, the likelihood of reaching such an outcome appears slim."

Rising Tensions Between Washington and Havana

Rubio's remarks come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Havana. The Trump administration has described the current Cuban government, run by communists, as "corrupt and incompetent," while continuing to pressure for regime change in Cuba.

In a statement on Wednesday, Trump declared, "America will not tolerate a rogue state harboring hostile foreign military, intelligence, and terrorist operations just ninety miles from the American homeland."

Since early 2026, Washington has sharply increased economic pressure on Havana. In January, Trump declared a state of emergency citing a threat to US national security from Cuba and authorized tariffs on imports from countries supplying oil to Cuba. In May, he signed a decree imposing sanctions on foreign banks involved in transactions benefiting individuals under US sanctions.

Cuba's Response and Russian Support

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel emphasized that the island does not pose a threat to anyone. He highlighted that the energy crisis in Cuba is experiencing a "dramatic worsening" due to the tightening of the US economic embargo, explaining that this aims to "take the people hostage" and incite them against their government.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed Moscow's readiness to support Havana's demand to end the US economic embargo on the island. Lavrov confirmed that Russia is also prepared to provide political, diplomatic, and material support to Cuba, affirming Russia's full solidarity with the Cuban people.