Photo courtesy of Anadolu
A planned $100 million humanitarian aid package for Cuba took focus in talks between senior US officials as the island grapples with a severe economic crisis and growing pressure from Washington.
Mike Hammer, head of the US diplomatic mission in Havana, briefed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on efforts to deliver the assistance through Caritas and other organizations deemed reliable, according to a US Embassy statement cited by Cuban news outlet Periodico Cubano.
The two officials met at the White House on Friday, where they also discussed conditions in Cuba and reaffirmed what the embassy described as their “firm support for the Cuban people.”
No new policy toward Havana was announced following the meeting. The discussions, however, came as the Trump administration continues to exert economic and political pressure on the Cuban government.
The talks also followed developments in Venezuela that could deepen Cuba’s economic difficulties, particularly in the energy sector because of the island’s longstanding dependence on Venezuelan oil supplies.
Havana has said 32 Cubans performing protection and advisory roles for the Venezuelan government were killed during a recent US operation in Venezuela. Cuba condemned the action as an act of aggression and a violation of international law, according to Periodico Cubano.
The presence of Cuban personnel in Venezuela’s security structures could also become another point of friction between Washington and Havana as the United States reassesses its approach to the region.
For Cuba, developments in Venezuela come as the island struggles with economic hardship and social discontent, adding uncertainty over energy supplies and other resources.
The Rubio-Hammer meeting signals that Cuba remains on Washington’s agenda, with humanitarian assistance, economic pressure and the regional fallout from developments in Venezuela shaping US engagement with the island.
