Cuba’s foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, has launched a sharp public attack on U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accusing him of spreading false claims about Havana’s role in regional security and its ties to U.S. adversaries.

The remarks, delivered during a Fox News interview, come at a time of renewed diplomatic strain between Washington and Havana under President Donald Trump.

War Between Havana and Washington

Rodríguez rejected recent U.S. statements describing Cuba as a security threat to the United States and accused Rubio of deliberately misleading both American and international audiences.

“In all areas, however, he lies, he lies on and on,” Rodríguez said during the televised interview, responding to Rubio’s characterization of Cuba as “one of the leading sponsors of terrorism in the entire region.”

He further accused the U.S. administration of shaping a political narrative aimed at justifying increased pressure on the island. “He continuously intends to deceive the public opinion in the U.S., the U.S. Congress and the international community,” Rodríguez added.

The Cuban foreign minister also dismissed suggestions that Cuba could pose a meaningful military threat to the United States, pointing to the imbalance in size and capability between the two countries.

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Rubio’s claims and expanding U.S. sanctions

Rubio, who has taken a hardline stance on Havana, has recently escalated rhetoric and policy measures targeting the Cuban government.

According to U.S. officials, Cuba remains under scrutiny for alleged cooperation with adversarial powers such as Russia and China, as well as suspected involvement in activities that could undermine U.S. security interests.

The Trump administration has responded with expanded sanctions targeting Cuban government-linked entities and elites. Restrictions on oil shipments have also tightened, contributing to worsening fuel shortages and blackouts on the island.

U.S. officials have defended the measures as part of a broader strategy to increase pressure on Havana’s leadership. The State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Rodríguez’s latest remarks.

The diplomatic dispute has also been intensified by legal developments in the United States, including a superseding indictment involving former Cuban president Raúl Castro and other senior officials from the Cuban government.

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Legal pressure and widening diplomatic fallout

The U.S. Department of Justice recently unsealed charges against Raúl Castro and several other figures associated with Cuba’s leadership, a move the Cuban government has rejected as politically motivated.

Rodríguez argued that the timing of the indictment raises questions about its legal and diplomatic intent, suggesting it is part of a broader pressure campaign.

At the same time, U.S. authorities have increased scrutiny of travel and financial activity linked to Cuba. The Treasury Department has also issued subpoenas in cases involving alleged violations of sanctions rules, further tightening oversight of U.S.-Cuba interactions.