WASHINGTON: US secretary of state Marco Rubio on Friday called for Cubans to make "discreet" contact with the American intelligence services as Washington seeks to force an end to the island's communist government.
For months, President Donald Trump and other senior US officials have openly hinted at a military intervention or takeover of Cuba, ramping up economic, political and legal pressure on the country.
"To those who seek to create positive change in Cuba -- now is the time," Rubio said on social media.
"The disappointment of failed promises, corruption, and the privileged lives of only a few; seize this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discrete partnership with the CIA."
The unusual post appeared to confirm that the CIA is currently active in Cuba after a long history of covert operations including backing the disastrous Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961.
The call was mocked by Cuban officials.
"Now the United States is resorting to public recruitment for the CIA," Cuban deputy foreign minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio wrote on X.
"There must be a great deal of desperation or misery within the agency for it to be forced to sell its services like a tube of toothpaste."
The CIA later uploaded a video to X offering instructions in Spanish for those who believe they have information of interest to the intelligence agency, encouraging them to first and foremost visit an official US installation in person if they can safely travel to one.
For those hoping to contact the CIA online via the cia.gov website, the agency instructed users to access the internet on a secure network like a VPN using a private browser and a burner email account unassociated with any personal details.
Those sharing information should be prepared to include their city, job, level of access and contact information with their message.
Trump, speaking at a rally in Florida earlier Friday, underlined his ambitions to impose regime change in Cuba.
"Those beautiful (US military) ships will pass Cuba. We'll have one of them stop about 50 yards off the coast," he said. "They'll raise up their hands. And then we're going to send Marco Rubio in to finish up the deal."
Cuban foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez quickly dismissed Trump's threats.
"Our coastline is full of beautiful beaches, but there are also razor-sharp limestone spikes, an inhospitable environment for those who make it to our shores with hostile purposes and lust for domination," he posted.