US Renews $100 Million Aid Offer to Cuba Amid Tensions

The US renewed a $100 million aid offer to Cuba, which Washington says Havana has refused. The move comes amid tightening US sanctions and a worsening economic crisis on the island. Cuban officials deny the claim and accuse Washington of using the offer as political leverage, highlighting ongoing tensions between the two countries. Make us preferred on Google Flip Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied This combination of pictures created on March 17, 2026 shows Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel arriving at a meeting with his Russian counterpart at the Kremlin in Moscow on May 7, 2025, and US President Donald Trump listen to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine (out of frame) speaking to the press following US military actions in Venezuela, at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on January 3, 2026. (Photo by Maxim Shemetov and Jim WATSON / various sources / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google 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. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . 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. Other Topics of Interest B9, Nordic Leaders Call for Increased Pressure on Russia Leaders of the Bucharest Nine and Nordic countries called for increased pressure on Russia to end its war against Ukraine during a summit in Bucharest. They reaffirmed support for Ukraine, highlighted Russia as a long‑term threat, and pledged to strengthen NATO’s eastern defenses. The statement emphasized the need for greater military cooperation, security guarantees, and sustained aid to Kyiv. 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.