US renews $100m Cuba aid offer; alleges Havana blocking ‘critical life-saving aid

The United States has renewed an offer of $100 million in humanitarian aid to Cuba, while alleging that the Cuban government is blocking critical life-saving assistance as the island struggles through a deepening economic and energy crisis.

In a statement issued on May 13, 2026, the US State Department announced that the proposed aid package would include direct humanitarian assistance and funding to establish fast and free internet access within Cuba. The US government indicated that the assistance would be made available if Havana cooperates with Washington and implements meaningful reforms within the communist-run country.

The renewed offer is conditioned on the aid being delivered directly to Cuban citizens, bypassing the central government.

The US State Department accused the Cuban leadership of intentionally obstructing the delivery of these resources to the 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 decision rests with the Cuban regime to accept our offer of assistance or deny critical (life)-saving aid and ultimately be accountable to the Cuban people for standing in the way of critical assistance. US State Department

The diplomatic tension follows remarks made by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a visit to Rome, where he claimed that Cuba had already rejected a previous $100 million aid proposal.

The Cuban government has categorically denied these assertions. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez dismissed the claims made by Rubio, describing the aid proposal as a lie and stating that no one here knows anything about such an offer.

Writing on X, Rodriguez questioned the motives behind the US offer and suggested that Washington should instead address the restrictions on energy imports.

Will it be a donation, a deception or a dirty deal to curtail our independence? Wouldn’t it be easier to lift the fuel blockade? Bruno Rodriguez, Cuban Foreign Minister

The exchange occurs as Cuba faces one of its most severe energy crises in recent years, characterized by fuel shortages and prolonged blackouts.

On May 13, 2026, Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel acknowledged that the energy situation was particularly tense. However, he attributed the deterioration of the island’s infrastructure and energy stability to the impact of US sanctions.

The severity of the power failures was highlighted by data compiled by AFP, which reported that approximately 65 percent of Cuban territory experienced simultaneous blackouts on May 12, 2026, due to significant shortfalls in electricity generation.