Rubio says Cuba is threat to US as Havana accuses him of 'lies'

Rubio says Cuba is threat to US as Havana accuses him of 'lies'1 hour agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleSofia Ferreira SantosReutersThe US secretary of state said Cuba had always posed a threatCuba poses a "national security threat" to the US and the likelihood of a peaceful agreement is "not high", US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said.His comments come just a day after the US charged Cuba's former president Raúl Castro with murder over the 1996 downing of two planes resulting the killing of US nationals.Rubio said Washington's preference was "a diplomatic solution" but warned that President Donald Trump had the right and obligation to protect his country against any threat.Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez accused Rubio of "lies" and said the island had never posed a threat to the US.Three ways Cuba crisis could play out after US indictment of Raúl CastroRussia and China condemn US over indictment of former Cuban leaderSpeaking to reporters on Thursday, Rubio said diplomacy "remains our preference with Cuba", but added: "I'm just being honest with you, you know, the likelihood of that happening, given who we're dealing with right now, is not high."He also accused Cuba of being "one of the leading sponsors of terrorism in the entire region", which Rodríguez vehemently denied in a post on X.The Cuban foreign minister criticised Rubio for trying to "instigate a military aggression" and accused the US government of "ruthlessly and systematically" attacking his country.Cuba is suffering from a fuel crisis exacerbated by an effective US oil blockade, while under pressure from the Trump administration to make a deal.Its citizens have experienced extended blackouts and food shortages over the last few months.Rubio said the country had accepted a US offer of $100m (£74.4m) in humanitarian aid.Trump has repeatedly sought to exert pressu...