Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, Cuba’s minister of Foreign Affairs, dismissed as a fabrication the alleged offer by the United States government of $100 million in humanitarian aid for the Cuban people and accused Secretary of State Marco Rubio of relying on falsehoods to justify what he described as criminal aggression against Cuba.
In a message posted on his official X account, the Cuban foreign minister stated: “Aware that he needs lies to justify his criminal aggression against the Cuban people, the U.S. Secretary of State fabricates the fable of an alleged aid offer valued at $100 million or more, attempting to deceive the people of Cuba and even Americans themselves. Where is that money, and what would it be used for?”
Rodríguez Parrilla emphasized that what is publicly documented are the billions of dollars in damages caused by the economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed by the United States on Cuba. He added that Rubio is also aware of the severe human consequences of those measures, including restrictions affecting income, technology, food, fuel, and medicine.
“It takes great cynicism to make such a deceitful statement about supposed aid without any shame. Was he sincere at the Holy See?” the Cuban foreign minister asked, referring to Rubio’s recent meeting with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican.
The statements by the Cuban diplomat came in response to comments made Thursday by Rubio during a press conference in Italy following his meeting with the head of the Catholic Church. During the briefing, the U.S. Secretary of State claimed that Washington had offered Cuba $100 million in humanitarian assistance, but that Havana had refused to accept it.
The #US Secretary of State, knowing for a fact that he needs to resort to lies to justify his criminal abuse against the Cuban people, fabricates the fable of an alleged offer for assistance that is worth 100 or more million dollars, in an attempt to fool the people of #Cuba and… pic.twitter.com/91Xsx8pLao
— Bruno Rodríguez P (@BrunoRguezP) May 8, 2026
While Rubio speaks of humanitarian aid, the administration of President Donald Trump has intensified sanctions against Cuba. On May 1, the U.S. president signed an executive order further tightening the embargo, and on May 7, the Treasury Department added the Cuban entities Gaesa and MoaNickel S.A. to the Specially Designated Nationals list.
In a separate statement, Cuba’s Foreign Ministry condemned the latest measures, warning that the United States is carrying out “an act of ruthless economic aggression” that expands the extraterritorial effects of the embargo. The ministry also argued that Washington is attempting to create conditions for a humanitarian crisis that could later be used to justify more dangerous actions, including military aggression.
- Communiqué issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba
