Secretary of State Marco Rubio has accused Cuba of operating a covert spy network within the United States, alleging the communist regime has embedded agents in top-level institutions and funded protest movements. The claims follow the recent conviction of a former U.S. ambassador, Manuel Rocha, sentenced to 15 years in prison for spying for Cuba.
Rubio also cited the case of Ana Belén Montes, a former Defense Intelligence Agency analyst convicted in 2001 of passing classified information to Cuba, as one of the most severe intelligence failures in U.S. history. He described Cuba as an ‘espionage superpower’, stating it is the only country to consistently plant spies in American systems without financial compensation.
In a series of interviews and statements, Rubio warned that Cuba’s influence extends beyond espionage, alleging it funds and organizes protest networks across the U.S. These networks, he claimed, have been mobilized to support groups such as Antifa, Hamas, and former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, while also targeting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
State Department Report Details Cuban Influence Operations
The allegations come after the U.S. State Department released a 100-page report outlining Cuba’s alleged influence operations in America. The document links Cuba to radical activism and labels the island nation the ‘capital of 21st-century communism.’ It also highlights Cuba’s historical role in supporting communist insurgencies across Latin America over the past four decades.
Rubio emphasized that Cuba’s espionage efforts have penetrated institutions including the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), where Montes worked before her arrest. He also referenced the case of a U.S. ambassador convicted of spying for Cuba, though he did not name the individual in his public remarks.
Broader Context: Counterterrorism and Leftist Extremism
Separately, Rubio has previously framed leftist extremism as a growing global threat, arguing that governments and institutions often dismiss such violence as legitimate political expression. In a 2026 counterterrorism strategy, the U.S. government identified ‘violent left-wing extremists, including anarchists and anti-fascists (Antifa),’ alongside narcoterrorists and Islamist groups as key security concerns.
Critics of Rubio’s stance argue that labeling leftist activism as terrorism risks conflating dissent with violence, potentially undermining civil liberties. Supporters, however, contend that unchecked extremism—regardless of ideological origin—poses a direct threat to national security and democratic institutions.
Ongoing Investigations and Policy Responses
The U.S. has not provided public details on the scope of Cuba’s alleged network beyond the cases of Rocha and Montes. However, Rubio’s remarks suggest a broader counterintelligence effort is underway to address perceived vulnerabilities in American institutions. The State Department’s report remains classified in full, with only key findings released to the public.
Lawmakers from both parties have called for further scrutiny of foreign influence operations, though debates continue over the appropriate balance between security measures and civil liberties. The Biden administration has not publicly endorsed Rubio’s characterization of Cuba’s capabilities but has acknowledged concerns about foreign interference in U.S. affairs.