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Cubans interviewed by Local 10 say the CIA's appeal is not their priority

The Miami station gathered sceptical reactions on the island to Secretary of State Marco Rubio's call to form a "discreet partnership" with the CIA; none of those interviewed had heard about the campaign.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on X for Cubans who want positive change to form a "discreet partnership" with the CIA, and the agency released a video explaining how to get in touch. The Miami station Local 10 gathered mostly sceptical reactions on the island: with fuel shortages, unreliable transport and growing difficulty putting food on the table, those interviewed said they had more immediate concerns.

"But will the same ones who came here to put bombs in Cuba help me? The ones who came to sabotage, how are they going to help me?" said Eriberto Valdés, in remarks published in English by Local 10.

"They take measures against the government, but the people are the ones who suffer. In reality, we are the ones suffering, not the government," said Elizabeth Bautes. Another interviewee, José Dopaso, argued for negotiation and mutual respect, and Juan Vélez said neither Rubio nor the Cuban state helps him at all. Daisy Torres asked to go back to how things were three or four years ago, when she could wake up with peace of mind, have transport to get to work and go out to buy groceries without problems.

The station recalls that the CIA's campaign against Cuba began shortly after the 1959 revolution, that the agency tried to assassinate Fidel Castro at least eight times, and that in 1961 it armed and trained more than 1,000 Cuban exiles who landed at the Bay of Pigs. It adds that in 2026 the Trump administration has stepped up pressure by preventing fuel from entering the country.

Local 10 notes that none of those interviewed had heard about the recruitment drive and that, despite the Communist Party's unpopularity, there have been no major demonstrations against it this year.

Sources: Local 10 (WPLG) · Martí Noticias · Serie Yamacoa: Protestas registradas por año (Observatorio Cubano de Conflictos (OCC))

Data updated: 2026-11-01T04:15:00.000Z

Cubans interviewed by Local 10 say the CIA's appeal is not their priority | Yamacoa Observatory