"Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has suggested that Havana would accept humanitarian aid from the United States if it is delivered in accordance with internationally recognised practices. But he added that, if the goal were truly to relieve the suffering of the Cuban people, the US would do better to lift its trade embargo on the island."
"The president's remarks came in a social media post on Thursday, one day after the US offered $100m in humanitarian aid to Cuba. If the US government is truly willing to provide aid in the amounts it has announced and in full accordance with universally recognised humanitarian practices, it will not encounter obstacles or ingratitude from Cuba, Diaz-Canel wrote."
"The aid offer, however, came with the condition that Cuba's government government institute meaningful reforms. Diaz-Canel described the offer as paradoxical given what he called the systematic and ruthless punishment imposed by the US government on the Cuban people. The harm could be alleviated in a much easier and more expeditious manner through the lifting or easing of the blockade, given that the humanitarian situation is known to be coldly calculated and deliberately induced, he wrote."
"Since the 1960s, Cuba has been under a comprehensive trade embargo from the US, one of its closest neighbours. The island sits just 150 kilometres, or 90 miles, from US shores. But since President Donald Trump took office for a second term in 2025, US pressure on Cuba's government has been heightened. In January, Trump first cut the flow of funds and fuel from Venezuela to Cuba. Then, he threatened steep tariffs against any country that provides Havana with oil, implementing a de facto fuel blockade on the island."
A US delegation led by CIA Director John Ratcliffe met Cuban officials in Havana. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Havana would accept humanitarian aid from the United States if it followed internationally recognized practices. He added that if the aim was to relieve Cuban suffering, the US should lift its trade embargo. Diaz-Canel made the remarks in a social media post after the US offered $100 million in humanitarian aid. He criticized the offer as paradoxical because of what he described as systematic and ruthless punishment by the US. He argued that easing the blockade would alleviate harm more quickly. Cuba has faced a comprehensive US trade embargo since the 1960s, and US pressure increased after Donald Trump’s 2025 return, including reduced Venezuelan funds and fuel and threats of steep tariffs on oil suppliers, contributing to blackouts and shortages.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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