The US has renewed an offer of $100 million in humanitarian aid to Cuba, increasing pressure on Havana as it struggles with an economic crisis and ongoing US-pressured sanctions.
The State Department confirmed the proposal on Wednesday, days after Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Cuba had previously rejected the offer - an assertion denied by Cuban officials, AFP reported.
In a statement, Washington accused the Cuban government of blocking assistance to its own population.
“The regime refuses to allow the United States to provide this assistance to the Cuban people, who are in desperate need of assistance due to the failures of Cuba’s corrupt regime,” the department said.
The aid package would include direct humanitarian support and funding to expand internet access, which US officials say could improve communication and information access on the island.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez dismissed the proposal as a “lie,” questioning whether it was a genuine offer or an attempt to undermine the country’s sovereignty.
“Wouldn’t it be easier to lift the fuel blockade?” Rodríguez wrote on X.
The renewed offer comes amid a broader US campaign to tighten economic pressure on Havana, including recent sanctions targeting key sectors of the state‑controlled economy and restrictions on foreign entities doing business with blacklisted Cuban organizations.
Prior to this, in January, the removal of Venezuelan support further deepened Cuban supply shortages and economic disparities, as it was a key source of fuel for the country.
However, Washington said it has already provided $6 million in humanitarian aid through the Catholic Church, bypassing the Cuban government.
The issue is a point of tension, as the US pushes for economic reforms and political change in Cuba.