"Why would it harm the relationship with the U.S.?" : Chilean Interior Minister defends assistance to Cuba

The Minister of the Interior of Chile, Álvaro Elizalde, once again defended this Sunday the , amidst the controversy generated by the decision of Gabriel Boric's government to allocate resources to the island during a time of energy and social crisis.

Elizalde responded to questions about whether the measure could affect relations with the United States, assuring that there is no reason for concern, while reminding that the Trump administration itself recently announced assistance for Cuba.

“The United States Department of State announced humanitarian aid to Cuba on February 5,” the minister stated, according to a report by CNN Chile, emphasizing that Chile is acting similarly by sending support “to the Cuban people.”

"Why would it damage the relations between our two countries when Chile is announcing the same thing, humanitarian aid to the people of Cuba?" he insisted.

The aid referred to corresponds to an additional package of 6 million dollars announced by Washington for those affected by Hurricane Melissa, bringing the total sent since October to 9 million. According to the State Department, the assistance will be distributed through the Catholic Church and Caritas, with food and solar lamps being sent from Miami, thus avoiding direct intervention from the Cuban government.

The Chilean official emphasized that the aid does not represent political support for the Cuban regime, but rather a response to the critical situation faced by thousands of families on the island.

"This aid is not for the government of Cuba, it is for the people of Cuba, who are experiencing a complex humanitarian situation. We are talking about girls and boys who will eventually have nothing to eat," Elizalde stated.

According to recent reports from Chilean authorities, the assistance will be channeled through the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) as part of the Chile Fund Against Hunger and Poverty, with an amount of one million dollars allocated primarily for health, nutrition, and child protection.

The minister also recalled that Cuba sent medical personnel to Chile after the 2010 earthquake as a rationale to justify the gesture of cooperation.

Chilean aid arrives at a particularly delicate moment for Cuba, marked by prolonged blackouts, fuel shortages, and a growing decline in basic services, a crisis that has led to new political tensions both inside and outside Chile.

Days before, President Gabriel Boric referred to the U.S. embargo against Cuba as “criminal” and confirmed the sending of aid, which sparked strong criticism from opposition sectors in Chile and from figures in the Cuban exile community in the United States.