Cuba is a national security threat to the US, Rubio says

Cuba poses a "national information threat" to the US and the likelihood of a peaceful statement is "not high", US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said.

His comments travel conscionable a time aft the US charged Cuba's erstwhile president Raúl Castro with execution implicit the 1996 downing of 2 planes resulting the the sidesplitting og US nationals.

Rubio said Washington's penchant was "a diplomatic solution" but warned that President Donald Trump had the close and work to support his state against immoderate threat.

Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez accused Rubio of "lies" and said the land had ne'er posed a menace to the US.

Speaking to reporters connected Thursday, Rubio said diplomacy "remains our penchant with Cuba", but added: "I'm conscionable being honorable with you, you know, the likelihood of that happening, fixed who we're dealing with close now, is not high."

He besides accused Cuba of being "one of the starring sponsors of coercion successful the full region", which Rodríguez vehemently denied successful a station connected X.

The Cuban overseas curate criticised Rubio for trying to "instigate a subject aggression" and accused the US authorities of "ruthlessly and systematically" attacking his country.

Cuba is suffering from a substance situation exacerbated by an effectual US lipid blockade, portion nether unit from the Trump medication to marque a deal.

Its citizens person experienced extended blackouts and nutrient shortages implicit the past fewer months.

Rubio said the state had accepted a US connection of $100m (£74.4m) successful humanitarian aid.

Trump has repeatedly sought to exert unit connected Cuba and has openly discussed toppling its communist regime.

Wednesday's indictment of the erstwhile Cuban president is seen by immoderate arsenic reminiscent of Trump's seizure of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro successful January.

Asked by reporters whether - and however - his authorities would get Castro to the US to look the charges, Rubio replied:

"I'm not going to speech astir however we're going to get him here, if we were trying to get him here, wherefore would I accidental to the media what our plans are astir that?"

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, who announced the charges successful Miami connected Wednesday, said the US "expect helium volition amusement up here, by his ain volition oregon different way".

Speaking to reporters successful the Oval Office, Trump said Cuba was a "failed country" and that his medication was trying to assistance them "on a humanitarian basis".

He said Cuban-Americans "want to spell backmost to their country" and assistance Cuba succeeded.

"Other presidents person looked astatine this for 50, 60 years doing thing and it looks similar I'll beryllium the 1 that does it, truthful I would beryllium blessed to bash it," Trump said.