CUBA on Wednesday rejected accusations made by the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who told a US Senate hearing that the island country sponsors terrorism.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez took to social media to say that Cuba’s inclusion on the unilateral and arbitrary US list of alleged state sponsors of terrorism is based on political criteria rather than evidence.

Mr Rodriguez said the designation is “so arbitrary and devoid of moral sense that the US Secretary of State himself lacks arguments before that country’s Congress to justify the imposition of this criminal measure.”

The Cuban foreign minister said Mr Rubio’s remarks showed Washington’s intention to ramp up pressure on Cuba.

“His mask crumbles. His political motivation and sole aim become clear: to strangle the Cuban economy by every possible means, provoke a humanitarian crisis and promote military intervention in Cuba,” Mr Rodriguez said.

He added that it was alarming that the Congress allows “the lie of a public servant to stand.”

Mr Rubio made the remarks during a Senate hearing, where he defended the decision of the administration of US President Donald Trump to keep Cuba on the list of alleged state sponsors of terrorism.