Cuba Rejects US Aid Offer, Demands End to Oil Blockade as Blackouts Spark Street Protests
Cuba’s president has told Washington to lift its oil blockade rather than extend a $100 million humanitarian aid offer, BBC Business reported Thursday, as worsening nationwide blackouts pushed Havana residents into the streets.
Protests Erupt Across Havana
The demonstrations marked the largest single night of unrest in the capital since the current crisis began in January. Residents blocked roads with burning rubbish and shouted anti-government slogans following another sweeping power cut. Neighbourhoods across the city went dark, with people audibly demanding electricity be restored. Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel acknowledged the situation was “particularly tense.” He attributed the deterioration entirely to what he called a US-led energy blockade, which he said threatened tariffs against any country supplying Cuba with fuel.
The US Aid Offer and Cuba’s Response
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said last week that Havana had turned down a $100 million aid package, a claim Cuba denied. The State Department renewed the offer Wednesday but attached conditions. Aid would have to flow through the Catholic Church and independent organisations, bypassing the Cuban government entirely. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said Havana was open to hearing the details. He also noted uncertainty about whether the offer covered cash or in-kind supplies. Rodríguez said Cuba does not routinely reject foreign aid made in genuine good faith. However, he argued that scaling back the energy and financial blockade would deliver far more immediate relief.
Also Read: What Trump’s Tariff Threats Mean for Global Energy Trade
Background: A Crisis Built Over Months
Cuba has historically relied on Venezuela and Mexico for oil deliveries to its refinery network. Both countries largely halted shipments after the Trump administration threatened tariffs on any nation supplying Cuba with fuel. The island’s Energy Minister reported this week that diesel and fuel oil stocks had been completely exhausted. Hospitals have struggled to operate, while schools and government offices have closed intermittently. Tourism, a critical revenue source for the Cuban economy, has also been disrupted by rolling outages. The US and Cuba acknowledged earlier this year that talks were underway, but negotiations appeared to stall as the blockade tightened.
Diplomacy Moves Quietly in the Background
A US government aircraft was observed departing Havana’s José Martí International Airport Thursday afternoon, with passengers boarding ahead of the flight. Neither government immediately commented on the plane’s purpose. The episode added to speculation that back-channel contact continues despite the public standoff over aid conditions and blockade policy. Both sides appear unwilling to publicly concede ground while the humanitarian situation on the island deteriorates.
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