US urges Cubans to work with CIA to oust government

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday urged Cubans to discreetly contact the CIA to promote "positive change," as Washington intensifies pressure to end Cuba's communist government. Cuban officials dismissed the appeal as desperation. Rubio's social media post encouraged collaboration with the CIA, citing unfulfilled promises and corruption. The CIA subsequently published a Spanish-language video with security instructions for potential informants. Cuba's vice-chancellor mocked the public recruitment, while President Trump reiterated regime-change ambitions at a Florida rally. Florida prosecutors filed murder charges this week against former Cuban President Raúl Castro over the 1996 downing of two civilian aircraft. Cuba rejected the charges as baseless and a pretext for military aggression. Washington has also imposed an oil blockade since January, worsening Cuba's economic crisis.