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Miguel Díaz-Canel sparked a wave of mockery and criticism on social media this Thursday after posting a message in which he claimed that Cuba would "face no obstacles or ingratitude" if the United States has a "genuine willingness" to provide the 100 million dollars in humanitarian aid that Washington offered to the Cuban people.
Just two days earlier, Chancellor Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla had described the offer as a "fable" and a "lie of 100 million dollars," denying having received any formal proposal. However, this Thursday, the Cuban regime took a step back and declared its willingness to listen to the conditions of the proposal in less than two days.
In his post, Díaz-Canel identified the country's priorities with a phrase that his critics turned into a target for irony: "The priorities are more than evident: fuels, food, and medicines."
He also boasted about the regime's track record regarding donations: "Our country's experience in receiving international aid, including from the U.S., is extensive and constructive. Any donor can attest to that reality."
It was precisely that phrase that sparked the greatest wave of sarcasm. “The experience is extensive… stealing donations,” replied one user. “I think it's the truest statement they've made: that they have experience in receiving help,” wrote another. “All that was missing was for them to include their Zelle,” joked a third.
Other comments pointed to a well-known destination for donations: GAESA, the business conglomerate of the Armed Forces that controls hotels, retail trade, and imports on the island. "Everything would end up in GAESA," "If they give it to them, the Cuban people don't see anything," and "International aid ends up sold in dollars" were some of the most common responses.
The Secretary of State Marco Rubio had revealed the offer on May 8 from Rome, after meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. This Friday, in an interview with NBC, Rubio was emphatic: "The only condition is that it has to be distributed by non-governmental organizations. It cannot be humanitarian aid that the government steals for itself".
The State Department formalized the offer on May 13 through an official statement, specifying that the funds would be distributed through the Catholic Church and independent humanitarian organizations, intentionally to exclude the Cuban state from the distribution chain.
Washington also revealed that it had made "numerous private offers" to the regime, including free access to satellite internet via Starlink, all of which were rejected by Havana.
The context explaining the regime's shift is a unprecedented energy crisis in Cuba: the electricity generation deficit exceeded 2,204 MW during peak night hours on Thursday, with blackout durations reaching up to 22 hours in Havana. Energy Minister Vicente de la O Levy admitted that Cuba "absolutely has no fuel, no diesel, only associated gas."
The night from Wednesday to Thursday saw protests erupt in at least 12 municipalities of Havana, featuring barricades, bonfires, and police repression, in what analysts described as the largest mobilizations in the capital since July 11, 2021.
The Cuban Conflict Observatory recorded 1,133 protests just in April 2026, a 29.5% increase compared to April 2025.
Rubio summarized the situation with a straightforward statement: "The Cuban people must know that there are 100 million dollars in food and medicine available to them right now, and the only reason it is not reaching them is the Cuban regime."
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