Rubio said the chances of a peaceful settlement with Cuba are low

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that Washington would prefer to resolve relations with Cuba through diplomatic means, but the likelihood of such a scenario currently remains low. He said this at a briefing on May 21.

According to Rubio, the administration of US President Donald Trump is still betting on a negotiated solution.

"And this is still our preference for Cuba. But, frankly speaking, considering who we are dealing with now, the probability of this is low. However, if their approach changes, we are ready. In the meantime, we will continue to do what we consider necessary," he said.

He added that the United States is ready for dialogue if the Cuban authorities change their position, but for now Washington intends to continue its policy of pressure on Havana.

According to the Reuters news agency, the statement was made against the background of an increased American campaign against the Cuban leadership. Rubio also stressed that the US actions are not an attempt to "build a nation," but are related to national security issues.

In addition, the agency notes that President Donald Trump advocates a change of policy in Cuba, where the communist leadership has been in power since 1959.

The United States has filed charges against former Cuban President Raul Castro. What the media is writing

The New York Times reported on May 16 that the American authorities are considering putting pressure on Raul Castro, including through criminal prosecution and subsequent kidnapping, similar to former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The threat, according to the sources of the publication, may become an instrument of pressure on Havana.

At the same time, on February 27, Trump announced a possible "friendly seizure" of Cuba. At the same time, he acknowledged that the state was facing serious economic consequences from his actions. The USA Today newspaper said on April 15 that Washington had even begun secret preparations for a possible military operation against this Latin American country.

The Axios portal reported on February 18 that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in secret talks with Guillermo Rodriguez Castro— the grandson and temporary guardian of Raul Castro. It was clarified that the contacts are taking place against the background of unprecedented pressure from Washington on Havana.