On Wednesday, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, Cuba's Deputy Foreign Minister, characterized the humanitarian assistance sent by the United States following Hurricane Melissa as merely "small packages of food and hygiene supplies along with other materials that are always appreciated." This statement appeared to be a direct response to comments made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio the previous day.
Cossío stated that out of the $3 million promised by Washington in October 2025—after the category 3 hurricane hit eastern Cuba—goods valued at "a total of $2.5 million" have arrived in the country, with the remainder expected soon.
The official also mentioned that the U.S. expanded its aid to Cuba with an additional $6 million, announced "months ago," raising the total commitment to $9 million. This aid is to be distributed through the Catholic Church.
What stands out is Cossío's precision with figures: he claims to know that the received aid amounts to $2.5 million, despite all assistance going directly to Caritas Cuba and the parish network, bypassing the government entirely.
A Calculated Tone of Condescension
The tone of Cossío's remarks was not one of gratitude but rather of calculated condescension. He concluded by demanding that the distribution be carried out "with proper coordination with national authorities and respect for our country's laws, without politicization, and focusing on the most vulnerable areas."
This statement followed Rubio's declaration at the White House that the U.S. wants to send more aid to Cuba, but the regime must permit it: "They won't let us provide more humanitarian aid to their own people, and we are willing to do so through the Church."
Rubio also announced plans to discuss the humanitarian aid issue in his upcoming meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican, scheduled for Thursday.
Reframing the Official Narrative
Cossío's approach seems to be an effort to reframe the official narrative: portraying the regime as cooperative and receptive while downplaying the shipments as mere "small packages," in contrast to the $9 million pledged by Washington.
This is not the first time the regime has adopted such an ambivalent stance. Since the Cuban government accused the U.S. aid of having opportunistic motives in January 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has accepted material goods while questioning the distribution method and accusing Washington of "political manipulation."
The aid, distributed in the dioceses of Holguín-Las Tunas, Bayamo-Manzanillo, Santiago de Cuba, and Guantánamo-Baracoa, has benefited about 6,000 families—up to 24,000 people—in a region still reeling from Hurricane Melissa amidst a humanitarian crisis that the Church struggles to address, dealing with power outages lasting up to 25 hours daily and an economic collapse.
The State Department was clear in February: "The regime will be held accountable to the United States and its own people for any interference."
Understanding U.S. Aid to Cuba
What is the total amount of U.S. aid committed to Cuba?
The United States has committed a total of $9 million in aid to Cuba, with $3 million initially promised and an additional $6 million announced later.
How is the aid being distributed in Cuba?
The aid is distributed through the Catholic Church's network, specifically through Caritas Cuba and various parish networks, bypassing the Cuban government.
Why does the Cuban government criticize U.S. aid?
The Cuban government criticizes U.S. aid, claiming it has opportunistic motives and accusing Washington of political manipulation, despite accepting the material goods.