Why Would It Harm U.S. Relations? Chilean Interior Minister Defends Aid to Cuba

On Sunday, Chile's Interior Minister, Álvaro Elizalde, once again justified the decision to send humanitarian aid to Cuba. This move by President Gabriel Boric's administration has sparked controversy, as it channels resources to the island amid a severe energy and social crisis.

Elizalde addressed concerns about whether this gesture might strain relations with the United States, asserting there is no reason for it to do so. He pointed out that even the Trump administration recently announced assistance for Cuba.

"The U.S. State Department announced humanitarian aid to Cuba on February 5," Elizalde stated, as reported by CNN Chile, emphasizing that Chile is aligning with this approach by providing support to "the Cuban people."

"Why would this harm the relationship between our countries when Chile is offering the same humanitarian aid to the Cuban people?" he questioned.

The aid package he referred to includes an additional $6 million announced by Washington for those affected by Hurricane Melissa, raising the total to $9 million since October. According to the State Department, this assistance will be distributed via the Catholic Church and Caritas, involving food and solar lamps shipped from Miami, thereby bypassing direct involvement with the Cuban government.

Elizalde stressed that the aid does not signify political support for the Cuban regime but is a response to the dire situations faced by numerous families on the island.

"This aid is not for the government of Cuba; it is for the Cuban people, who are enduring a complex humanitarian situation. We are talking about children who might not have enough to eat," Elizalde remarked.

Recent updates from Chilean authorities indicate that the aid will be funneled through the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), as part of the Fund Chile Against Hunger and Poverty. The aid, amounting to $1 million, primarily targets health, nutrition, and child protection.

The minister also highlighted that Cuba sent medical personnel to Chile following the 2010 earthquake, using this as a rationale for the cooperative gesture.

This Chilean aid comes at a particularly sensitive time for Cuba, which is grappling with prolonged blackouts, fuel shortages, and a further decline in basic services, a crisis that has stirred political tensions both within and outside Chile.

Days prior, President Gabriel Boric labeled the U.S. embargo on Cuba as "criminal" while confirming the aid dispatch, triggering strong criticism from opposition sectors in Chile and figures in the Cuban exile community in the United States.