Rubio on Cuba: President has 'obligation' to ACT on National Security threats

Added: 2026-05-25

[00:00:00]Do you see the likelihood of the use of US force to achieve a change in the Cuban political system as growing?

[00:00:07]>> Our Our preference in Cuba and anywhere in the world is a negotiated diplomatic settlement, okay? And that's what I would say to you. The president always has the option to do whatever it takes to support and protect the national interest and national security of the United States. He has the option to do that if there's a threat to the national security of the United States. And he has shown his willingness to do that when he identifies such a threat. That said, our preference is always a diplomatic solution, always. Um and and you know a negotiated agreement. That's always our preference. But to answer your question, if there's a threat to the national security of the United States, the president not just has the right, he has the obligation to address that national security threat. Right now, there just doesn't seem to be people over there in charge of the regime who are in any way open to any of those changes. And the things they talk about economically are cosmetic in nature. They're not real.

[00:00:56]Because that's what they've gotten used to all these years is just buying time and waiting us out. They're not going to be able to wait us out or buy time.

[00:01:02]We're very serious. We're very focused.

[00:01:04]As I told you a moment ago in the context of Iran, the president's preference is always a negotiated agreement that's peaceful. That's always our preference. That remains our preference with Cuba. 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. But if they have a change of heart, you know, we're here.