Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel expressed his government's willingness to accept humanitarian assistance, provided it is offered "honestly," indirectly referring to an aid proposal from the United States.
"As I have previously stated, Cuba is open to and grateful for any form of aid to our people, as long as it is honest and respects our regulations and national sovereignty, similar to what other countries and international organizations are currently doing," Díaz-Canel posted on X, accompanying a video response from the Cuban regime to the aid announcement by Marco Rubio.
This week, as Hurricane Melissa battered the Caribbean, Secretary of State Marco Rubio engaged in discussions with the governments of Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and the Bahamas to coordinate response efforts and support. The lawmaker indicated that rescue teams and emergency supplies are heading to the affected regions and conveyed his "prayers" for the Caribbean people.
A day later, Rubio announced the U.S. government's readiness to provide "immediate" humanitarian aid to Cubans impacted by Hurricane Melissa, emphasizing that the aid would bypass the Cuban regime's intermediaries.
The initial announcement was made via his social media account on X, where the Republican official refrained from providing details but made it clear that Cuba is included among the nations eligible for assistance from Washington.
"We are prepared to offer immediate humanitarian assistance to the Cuban people affected by the hurricane," Rubio stated succinctly.
These remarks from the Cuban-American prompted several contradictory and antagonistic responses from senior Cuban officials who, instead of showing empathy for the human tragedy, chose political confrontation.
On Friday, the Cuban government claimed that the United States has not formalized any humanitarian aid offer following Melissa's impact.
The statement was made by Johana Tablada, Deputy Director General of the U.S. Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX), who noted that the Cuban embassy in Washington had contacted the State Department "regarding what was published," but so far, "the United States has not formalized any offer nor responded to the inquiries" about the announced aid.
According to Tablada, other countries and United Nations organizations have already made offers that are in the process of being realized, reiterating that "the Cuban government has not imposed any extraordinary conditions in any case."
Frequently Asked Questions about U.S. Aid to Cuba
What conditions has Cuba set for receiving humanitarian aid?
Cuba has stated it is open to receiving aid as long as it is honest and respects national sovereignty and regulations.
How did the U.S. propose to deliver aid to Cuba?
The U.S. proposed to provide immediate humanitarian aid directly to the Cuban people, bypassing the Cuban regime's intermediaries.
What was the Cuban government's response to the U.S. aid proposal?
The Cuban government claimed that the U.S. had not formalized any aid offer and had not responded to their inquiries about the announced assistance.