Cuba’s Diaz-Canel open to US aid amid worsening fuel crisis, blackouts | Food News
Cuban President Open to Humanitarian Aid from U.S. Amid Trade Embargo
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel indicated on Thursday that Havana would consider accepting humanitarian aid from the United States, provided it aligns with internationally recognized standards. However, he emphasized that lifting the U.S. trade embargo would be a more effective way to alleviate the suffering of the Cuban populace.
Diaz-Canel’s comments were made on social media following a U.S. announcement offering $100 million in humanitarian assistance to Cuba, contingent on the Cuban government implementing “meaningful reforms.” The president characterized this offer as contradictory, asserting that the U.S. government has imposed “systematic and ruthless” penalties on the Cuban people.
“If the U.S. government is truly willing to provide aid as proposed, it will encounter neither obstacles nor ingratitude from Cuba,” Diaz-Canel stated. He also noted that the ongoing blockade contributes significantly to the humanitarian crisis on the island, which is situated just 90 miles off the U.S. coast.
Since the 1960s, Cuba has faced a comprehensive U.S. trade embargo, which has intensified under the administration of President Donald Trump. Since taking office for a second term in early 2025, Trump has made efforts to cut funding and fuel supplies from Venezuela to Cuba and has threatened tariffs against countries supplying oil to the island, effectively enforcing a fuel blockade. This has resulted in widespread blackouts and energy shortages, significantly impacting public services.
Cuba’s Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy recently announced that the country had fully run out of diesel and fuel oil, aggravating the existing energy crisis. In his Thursday message, Diaz-Canel highlighted the dire need for basic supplies, specifically fuel, food, and medicines.
The recent U.S. aid proposal came shortly after the U.S. Department of State reiterated its commitment to providing $100 million in direct humanitarian assistance. The department urged the Cuban regime to accept the offer, framing it as a decision that would reflect their accountability to the Cuban people.
Media reports suggested that the U.S. administration has previously pressured Diaz-Canel to resign, although such a change would likely leave much of the island’s communist leadership intact. Trump has pointed to his administration’s actions in Venezuela as a potential blueprint for his approach to other adversarial governments.
On Thursday, a U.S. delegation, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe, met with Cuban officials in Havana. Discussions included potential cooperation on regional and international security, with the Cuban government insisting it does not pose a threat to U.S. national security.
