Former President Donald Trump announced on Friday that his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, is currently in the process of negotiating a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
Trump further mentioned that once this task is completed, Rubio will turn his attention to Cuba. With a touch of humor, Trump joked about deploying Rubio to the island via parachute.
These remarks were made during the CPAC Circle Retreat and Gala, a private gathering of the American conservative movement held at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida.
The speech's video was released on the official CPAC account on the social media platform X.
“I want to thank Marco Rubio, who is going to be the best Secretary of State. He is currently working on the deal with Russia [and Ukraine]. It's a significant deal, and I believe he'll come back with something soon, and then he'll take care of Cuba,” Trump told the audience at the event.
He then humorously suggested an already familiar image: “We'll parachute him into Cuba, just tell him to solve it, Marco. He will solve it. His parents were born in Cuba, so it's a great story.”
The comment was not accompanied by any announcements of military actions or specific measures targeting the island.
Historical Context and Political Implications
Trump first used the parachute joke on October 27 during a rally in Corpus Christi, Texas. Earlier, in Fort Myers, Florida, he had imagined U.S. warships halting 50 yards off the Cuban coast, with Rubio closing "the deal." During the United Nations General Assembly week in September, he suggested leaving Rubio in Cuba from an aircraft carrier.
The Mar-a-Lago speech came at a politically charged moment for the Trump administration. The Democrats had secured majorities in both congressional chambers in the November 3 midterm elections, although the new Congress would not assume duties until January 2027.
On the eve of the event, Trump announced that Stephen Miller would replace Susie Wiles as White House Chief of Staff starting November 9.
On Thursday, Trump held a private meeting at the White House with Kirill Dmitriev, the special envoy of Russian President Vladimir Putin, and declared that a peace deal was "very close" and would be "big," potentially encompassing "all of Europe." Trilateral talks between the United States, Russia, and Ukraine were scheduled for November 10 and 11 in Abu Dhabi.
Rubio's Role and the Future of U.S.-Cuba Relations
Since September 22, Rubio has served as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, being the primary architect of Washington's maximum pressure policy toward Havana.
On November 5, the State Department announced sanctions against ten targets linked to the Cuban regime, including a maritime oil transport network, state import entities, and Chinese military equipment suppliers.
Following the midterm elections, rumors circulated about Rubio's potential departure from the government to prepare for a 2028 presidential bid, but both the State Department and the White House dismissed these as "completely unfounded fake news."
Rubio himself denied such claims in an interview with The New York Times published ahead of the CPAC event: “Working for President Trump until the end of his term has always been my plan.”
Key Questions About Rubio's Diplomatic Efforts
What is Marco Rubio's current diplomatic mission?
Marco Rubio is currently tasked with negotiating a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
What did Trump joke about regarding Rubio and Cuba?
Trump humorously suggested deploying Rubio to Cuba by parachute to "solve" the situation there, referencing Rubio's Cuban heritage.
Are there any military plans related to Cuba?
No, there have been no announcements of military operations or concrete actions towards Cuba following Trump's comments.
What are the recent U.S. sanctions against Cuba?
The U.S. has imposed sanctions on ten targets associated with the Cuban regime, including a maritime oil transport network and Chinese military equipment suppliers.