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Miguel Díaz-Canel published a message on X last Saturday expressing gratitude to Colombian President Gustavo Petro and the Colombian people for the shipment of humanitarian aid to Cuba, which sparked a wave of indignation on social media among Cubans and Latin Americans who strongly criticized the regime.
"A heartfelt thank you to President @petrogustavo and the Colombian people for sending aid to the noble Cuban people. This solidarity arrives in difficult times, caused by the criminal blockade policy of the U.S. government. Brotherhood cannot be blocked," wrote Díaz-Canel, accompanying the message with an image of the ship in front of the Castillo del Morro in Havana.
The Colombian Navy ship arrived in Havana last Friday from Cartagena de Indias with approximately 100 tons of humanitarian aid that included non-perishable food, medications, hospital supplies, electrical materials, and solar panels.
The shipment was supplemented by more than seven additional tons contributed by supportive organizations and Cubans residing in Colombia, in an operation coordinated by the Presidential Agency for Cooperation of the South American country.
It is not the first shipment: Colombia has dispatched aid to Cuba multiple times since November 2025, when it sent 240 tons following Hurricane Melissa, and in April 2026 sent a plane with medicines and food, in addition to which in May Petro ordered the surplus Colombian rice to be sent to the island.
But Díaz-Canel's public gratitude sparked comments. A user identified as "Elendil El Alto Rey de Arnor y Gondor" captured the outrage of many with a phrase that went viral: "Because of you, Cuba is no longer a country; it is an NGO that lives off donations."
Argenis Jesús Perozo was more direct and targeted both leaders: "Thieves, both of them. Pure parasites. After robbing us Venezuelans for 20 years, they're now stealing from the Colombians. Useless scoundrels."
Andrea Mantilla (@amantilla8a) also reacted strongly: "Shameless! Because of that corrupt dictatorship, where politicians eat well and live extremely comfortably regardless of the miserable life their people have; they should feel ashamed."
Indignation has a backdrop of devastating figures. According to the survey "There is Hunger in Cuba 2025" conducted by the Food Monitor Program and Cuido60, 33.9% of Cuban households had at least one member who went to bed hungry in 2025, and 94.9% lost access to food purchases in the past year.
The Cuban Minister of Food Industry himself admitted this month that they have not been able to deliver oil, chicken, or yogurt through the regulated basket this year.
The situation is worsening due to the regime's inability to distribute what it already receives: the UN reported in April that about 170 containers of humanitarian supplies valued at 6.3 million dollars were already in Cuba but were not reaching the population due to a lack of fuel for distribution.
While the regime blames the U.S. embargo for the crisis, critics argue that 67 years of communist dictatorship have destroyed the country's productive capacity, which now imports about 80% of what it consumes and whose agricultural production is said to have fallen by 67% in five years.
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