Cuba spent decades recruiting American spies. Now Washington is turning the tables on Havana

U.S. Officials Warn of Decades‑Long Cuban Espionage Program, Call for Cooperation from Cubans

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has publicly urged Cuban citizens to cooperate with the Central Intelligence Agency, citing a long‑standing intelligence‑gathering program run by Cuba’s regime that has recruited American nationals for espionage activities.

The call follows a series of U.S. actions aimed at countering Cuban infiltration of American institutions, including federal sanctions against Cuban entities, a Florida state arrest warrant for former Cuban official Raúl Castro, and the release of a report detailing Cuban intelligence operations in the United States.

History of Cuban Espionage in the United States

For more than twenty years, Cuban intelligence has covertly placed U.S. citizens in positions that grant access to sensitive information. The most prominent cases include:

• Ana Belén Montes – Former Pentagon analyst who worked for Cuban intelligence before becoming the agency’s leading Cuba analyst. She reportedly exposed U.S. intelligence officers to Cuban handlers and provided inaccurate assessments of the island’s security environment.
• Victor Manuel Rocha – Former U.S. ambassador and National Security Council member who allegedly served as a Cuban asset while in office.
• Kendall and Gwendolyn Myers – A husband‑wife pair who reportedly spied for Cuba for thirty years, gathering information from U.S. political and intelligence circles.

The “Wasp Network,” a Cuban intelligence effort identified by U.S. officials, allegedly infiltrated exile organizations and targeted U.S. military facilities. One member of the network was convicted in 1996 of conspiracy to commit murder in connection with the destruction of two “Brothers to the Rescue” aircraft, an operation that killed four people, three of whom were U.S. citizens.

U.S. Response

In response to the alleged threat, the U.S. State Department has imposed sanctions on five Cuban entities and a member of the Castro family. Secretary Rubio announced that these sanctions are part of a broader strategy to pressure the Cuban regime to curtail its intelligence operations. The sanctions aim to isolate Cuban officials who are believed to be involved in espionage activities and to deter further recruitment of American citizens.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has secured a state arrest warrant for former Cuban official Raúl Castro, adding a legal dimension to the U.S. campaign against Cuban intelligence operations.

Call for Cuban Cooperation

Secretary Rubio’s invitation to Cuban citizens is a novel approach aimed at creating a “back channel” to the Cuban government. By offering to work with the CIA, Rubio hopes to give Cuban insiders an opportunity to provide information about who in the U.S. is compromised, what assets are being used, and where the Cuban intelligence chain of command is most vulnerable.

“This invitation is not a plea for treason, but a strategic move to give Cuban citizens who may be uncomfortable with the regime’s actions a legitimate avenue to aid the United States,” Rubio said in a statement. He emphasized that the U.S. is prepared to verify claims, protect reliable sources, and prosecute individuals found to be acting in concert with Cuban intelligence.

Cuban Response

Cuba’s foreign minister has publicly accused Secretary Rubio of lying to Americans to justify U.S. action against the country. The Cuban government maintains that its intelligence activities are a matter of national security and that it has no intention of recruiting Americans or acting against U.S. interests.

Implications for U.S. National Security

The U.S. has highlighted that poverty and economic difficulties in Cuba do not preclude the regime from engaging in sophisticated espionage operations. Cuban intelligence agencies are believed to allocate resources strategically, prioritizing regime stability and international influence over domestic welfare.

The U.S. intelligence community asserts that by identifying Cuban operatives within American institutions, protecting potential sources, and disrupting ongoing Cuban intelligence networks, it can mitigate threats that would otherwise remain hidden.

The U.S. strategy underscores a long‑term, patient approach, noting that Cuban intelligence operations are measured over decades rather than short news cycles.

Looking Ahead

Secretary Rubio’s invitation signals a shift in U.S. policy toward a more proactive stance against Cuban espionage. While the Cuban government has denounced the move, U.S. officials remain focused on protecting national security by exposing and countering the island’s intelligence network.

The ongoing legal actions, sanctions, and calls for cooperation reflect an intensified effort to address what the U.S. describes as a persistent threat that extends beyond Cuba’s borders into the United States.