A senior official from the U.S. Department of State issued a stern warning to the Cuban regime on Thursday, cautioning against any interference with the humanitarian aid dispatched by Washington. President Donald Trump, the official emphasized, "will take action" should Havana obstruct the assistance intended for its citizens.
The warning was delivered by Jeremy Lewin, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Humanitarian Assistance, who clearly stated that the Cuban government faces "two choices: accept the aid or face accountability."
"The situation in Venezuela should serve as a stark reminder to the Cuban regime, and all tyrants around the globe, that President Trump is not to be trifled with. Weakness and disorder in our hemisphere are a thing of the past," Lewin asserted in a statement shared on his official X account (formerly Twitter).
The U.S. plans to send $3 million in humanitarian aid to the Cuban population impacted by Hurricane Melissa, which battered the island in October, Lewin noted. This aid package will include food, medicines, and essential emergency equipment, distributed through non-governmental organizations.
"The failed Cuban regime has a decision to make: allow the aid to reach the needy Cuban people or answer for their corruption, both to their own citizens and to the United States," Lewin added, echoing remarks made by Secretary of State Marco Rubio following the capture of narcoterrorist Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.
"Do not test President Trump," he emphasized.
This warning surfaces amid escalating pressure from Washington on Miguel Díaz-Canel's regime, as the U.S. enhances its diplomatic and humanitarian presence in the Caribbean following the military operation that toppled Chavismo in Venezuela.
The Cuban regime has recently condemned the U.S. aid as opportunistic, labeling it an operation marked by "political manipulation."
Sources within the Department of State confirmed to Reuters that the aid delivery will be conducted "directly to the Cuban people" and warned that any attempt by authorities to obstruct it "will have consequences."
FAQs on U.S. Aid to Cuba Post-Hurricane Melissa
What is the total amount of humanitarian aid being sent to Cuba?
The United States is sending $3 million in humanitarian aid to Cuba.
How will the aid be distributed in Cuba?
The aid will be channeled through non-governmental organizations to ensure it reaches the affected Cuban population directly.
What are the consequences if the Cuban regime interferes with the aid?
The United States has warned that any obstruction of the aid by Cuban authorities will result in consequences, although specific actions have not been detailed.