Washington offers $100 million in new relationship with Cuba
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday (May 20th) offered a new relationship between the United States and Cuba in a video message to the Cuban people, proposing $100 million in aid, and blaming the Havana leadership for shortages of electricity, food and fuel.
"In the United States, we are offering your help not only to alleviate the current crisis, but also to build a better future," Rubio said in a State Department message marking Cuba's Independence Day.
"The real reason for the lack of electricity, fuel and food is that those who control your country have looted billions of dollars, but nothing has been used to help the people," Rubio said.
The United States was offering $100 million in food and medicine to the Cuban people, but they had to be distributed through the Catholic Church or other credible charitable organizations, he said.
Cuban Embassy in Washington: Rubio is lying
Cuba's embassy in the United States said Rubio was lying and that the United States was subjecting the island nation to cruelty.
"The reason why the U.S. Secretary of State repeatedly and unconscionably lies when referring to Cuba and trying to justify his aggression against the Cuban people is not ignorance or incompetence," the embassy said in a post on X. He knows very well that there is no excuse for such cruel and brutal aggression."
Trump is seeking regime change in Cuba, where communists have been in power since Raul Castro, the brother of the late Fidel Castro, led a revolution in 1959.
Washington: Cuba Acquired 300 Drones
Officials in the United States are studying the possibility of Cuba acquiring more than 300 military drones and the possibility of using them in possible attacks against U.S. targets.
According to a report published by the website on Sunday, May 17, one of the officials said, "These technologies have become very close to us, and with the involvement of multiple malicious actors, from terrorist groups and drug cartels, to Iranians and Russians, the situation is worrisome."
U.S. officials believe that since 2023, Cuba has been acquiring attack drones with various capabilities from Russia and Iran, and deploying them in strategic locations within the island.
A senior U.S. official claimed that Cuba last month requested more drones and military equipment from Russia, and that Iran was seeking to train it to strengthen its defense and offensive capabilities.
U.S. concerns about drone attacks have escalated, especially after they were used in the confrontations that erupted on Feb. 28, 2026.
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegsey said during a congressional hearing on Tuesday, referring to Cuba: "We have long been concerned that a foreign adversary could use a location too close to our shores, because that is a very serious problem."