Marco Rubio downplays photo taken in front of a map of Cuba with head of Southern Command

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday downplayed the fact that he was photographed alongside the head of the US Southern Command in front of a map of Cuba and the apparent possibility that Washington is preparing an imminent military offensive against the island. "Cuba is within Southern Command. You know, it's the closest part," Rubio said at an unusual press conference at the White House, explaining that the decision to pose with the map of Cuba during his visit to the command's headquarters was simply because there was one in the room where the snapshot was taken.