On Wednesday, May 13th, the US State Department once again declared that if the Cuban regime allows it, the United States is prepared to provide $100 million in direct assistance to the Cuban people.
The State Department stated in a release, “As US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has mentioned, the US has on multiple occasions privately offered generous assistance to the Cuban regime to provide to the Cuban people, including free high-speed satellite internet and $100 million in direct humanitarian aid. However, the Cuban regime has refused to allow the US to offer this assistance to the Cuban people.”
The US State Department reiterated publicly on Wednesday that the US is willing to provide an additional $100 million in direct humanitarian assistance to the Cuban people, with this aid being distributed in coordination with the Catholic Church and other trustworthy independent humanitarian organizations.
“The decision to accept our assistance or to refuse to provide vital lifesaving aid ultimately lies with the Cuban regime—but they will be held accountable for obstructing crucial assistance to the Cuban people,” the State Department emphasized.
The State Department further stated that the US has been seeking “meaningful reform” in the communist system in Cuba, but the Cuban communist system only serves its elite class, enriching the elite while plunging the ordinary Cuban people into poverty and dire need of assistance.
Currently, the Cuban population is facing widespread shortages of goods and economic collapse.
During his visit to Italy last Friday, Senator Rubio revealed that during his meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, they specifically discussed the issue of delivering supplies to Cuba. He emphasized that the US hopes to further alleviate the suffering of the Cuban people but criticized the Cuban government for hindering aid efforts—the Cuban government rejected the $100 million humanitarian aid offered by the US.
In February, the US had distributed $6 million worth of supplies to the Cuban people through the nonprofit organization Caritas, affiliated with the Catholic Church.
Rubio stated, “We are prepared to do more. In fact, we have offered $100 million in humanitarian aid to that regime, but unfortunately, they have not agreed to distribute these supplies so far.”
He added, “We hope this aid can be realized because the Cuban people are being harmed by this incompetent regime that has destroyed the country’s economy.”
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla denied the US’s proposal and instead pointed to the US economic sanctions as the root cause of the humanitarian crisis in the country.
Currently, the US maintains economic sanctions against Cuba but has exemptions for food, medicine, and disaster response. After Hurricane Melissa hit Cuba last autumn, the US announced assistance for reconstruction, but due to severe fuel shortages in Cuba, the progress of distributing supplies has been slow.
Currently, negotiations between the US and Cuba appear to be at a standstill. Despite US urging for Cuba to implement economic reforms and release political prisoners, the Cuban government has yet to take substantive action.