World War III
Rubio Tells Cuban Leaders to "Be Concerned" After Maduro Arrest
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a blunt warning to Cuba on Saturday, saying its leaders should be “concerned” after the American military operation that led to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, as Washington openly signaled that Havana could be next in line for pressure.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a blunt warning to Cuba on Saturday, saying its leaders should be “concerned” after the American military operation that led to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, as Washington openly signaled that Havana could be next in line for pressure.
Speaking alongside President Donald Trump, Rubio accused Cuba of deeply embedding itself inside Venezuela’s security and intelligence apparatus over years of close cooperation between the two governments. He claimed Maduro’s personal security detail and Venezuela’s spy agencies were heavily staffed by Cuban operatives, arguing that Caracas had effectively lost its independence from Havana long before the US intervention.
“One of the biggest problems Venezuelans have is they have to declare independence from Cuba,” Rubio said, describing what he called a quiet colonization of Venezuela’s security state. He characterized Cuba’s leadership as incompetent and presiding over a failed system, adding pointedly that if he were part of the Cuban government, he would be worried.
Trump reinforced the message, calling Cuba a “failing nation” and suggesting it would soon become a focus of his administration’s regional agenda. While framing the rhetoric in terms of helping ordinary Cubans, both men made clear that the removal of Maduro had altered the balance of power in the Caribbean and Latin America.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were seized during a US military operation and transferred to an American naval vessel. US officials say the pair will be brought to the United States to face federal charges including narco-terrorism, drug trafficking conspiracies, and weapons offenses. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the case accuses Maduro of partnering with drug cartels to funnel narcotics into the United States.
Cuban officials reacted angrily, condemning the operation as state terrorism and warning that the move threatened regional stability. Havana framed the arrest as an illegal kidnapping and urged other governments in the region to remain alert, portraying the US action as a broader threat beyond Venezuela.
The sharp exchange underscored how quickly the fallout from Maduro’s capture has expanded beyond Caracas. With Washington now openly talking about reshaping Venezuela’s future and hinting at further confrontations, Cuba finds itself squarely in the rhetorical crosshairs, facing renewed uncertainty over how far the Trump administration is prepared to go.