Concerns Raised Over Cuban Espionage in the U.S.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed worries about Cuba’s capacity to infiltrate and sway key U.S. institutions. He highlighted what he refers to as a significant Cuban espionage network undermining American interests.

“A failed state merely 90 miles from our shores, aligned with our adversaries, poses a national security threat,” Rubio noted on ‘My View with Lara Trump’ recently.

Rubio’s comments come in the wake of a 100-page State Department report on Cuba’s influence operations in the U.S. This report links Cuba to groups like Antifa and labels the nation as the “capital of 21st-century communism.” The allegations point to Cuban networks inciting anti-ICE and pro-Maduro protests to exert pressure on U.S. lawmakers.

“They actually are an influence and espionage superpower,” Rubio emphasized. He outlined Cuba’s history of embedding spies in U.S. systems without monetary compensation.

One high-profile case involved a former U.S. ambassador and national security official, Manuel Rocha, who was convicted and sentenced to 15 years for acting as a Cuban secret agent for many years. Rubio also mentioned Ana Belén Montes, a DIA analyst who transmitted confidential U.S. information to Cuba, marking a severe intelligence breach.

According to Rubio, Cuba employs protest networks nationwide to pressure lawmakers. He claimed protests supporting Hamas, anti-ICE initiatives, and pro-Maduro stances have links to Cuban-backed operatives.

“There’s nothing organic about it; it is funded and organized. Cuba is integral to that network,” Rubio stated.

These assertions align with accusations of Cuba wielding influence across Latin America, with historical connections to left-wing insurgencies destabilizing regional governments, according to Rubio.

Critics of the State Department’s report argue it might aim to justify potential U.S. military actions against Cuba. However, Rubio dismissed sympathies towards Cuba’s one-party communist regime, asserting the need to acknowledge this threat despite ideological divides.

Nora Moriarty is a writer for Fox News Digital.