His comments came a day after former Cuban President Raúl Castro was charged with murder for the 1996 downing of two airliners that killed American citizens.
Rubio emphasized that Washington prefers a diplomatic solution and that Donald Trump has the right and obligation to protect the country from any threat.
– Honestly, the probability of that happening, considering who we are dealing with, is not high – Rubio told reporters.
He called Cuba one of the leading sponsors of terrorism in the region, which Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez vehemently denied, accusing the US official of lying and trying to incite military aggression.
Rodríguez said on the X network that Cuba has never posed a threat to the US and accused Washington of mercilessly and systematically attacking his country.
Cuba is facing a severe fuel crisis, exacerbated by the US oil embargo, while citizens face power outages and food shortages. Rubio said that Havana has accepted the US offer of $100 million in humanitarian aid.
Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump called Cuba a failed state and said his administration was seeking aid on a humanitarian basis.
– Other presidents have looked at this for 50, 60 years, and it looks like I will be the one to solve it – said Trump.
(Vijesti.ba/FENA)
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