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The United States Ambassador to Mexico, Ronald Johnson, stated on X that the best way to assist Cuba is by "empowering the Cuban people," and not the regime that has "oppressed them for decades."
The diplomat made the statement on his social media one day after the former Mexican president Andrés Manuel López Obrador emerged from his political retirement to call for solidarity support for the island.
"Paraphrasing Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the best way to help the Cuban people is by empowering them, not the regime that has oppressed them for decades," Johnson wrote.
His words come amid the debate generated in Mexico following López Obrador's call to raise funds to send aid to Cuba. The former president invited citizens and party members to make donations to an account of the civil association Humanity with Latin America, with the aim of purchasing food, medicine, oil, and gasoline for the island.
The statement from the American ambassador also coincides with recent remarks from President Donald Trump, who asserted that Washington is having discussions with Havana and that an agreement could be reached in the future.
"Cuba also wants to reach an agreement, and I believe we will come to an agreement very soon or do whatever is necessary. We are talking with Cuba, but we will deal with Iran before Cuba," Trump stated.
The island is currently experiencing a deep economic and energy crisis. In recent months, the United States has intensified economic pressure on the Cuban government with measures that include an oil blockade since January and the imposition of tariffs on countries that supply crude oil to Cuba.
In that context, López Obrador's call was supported by the Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who stated that her government will continue to provide support to the island for humanitarian reasons and out of historical solidarity.
"We will continue to support the people of Cuba from the government, and anyone who wants to support, should support," declared the leader during a tour of the state of Nayarit.
Johnson's statements reflect Washington's stance that any international aid to Cuba should focus on directly benefiting the population rather than strengthening the structures of the ruling regime.
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