Although they are only following orders, it now seems that whether or not to accept the humanitarian aid offered by Marco Rubio depends on which vice minister prevails.
MIAMI, United States. – The public announcement by the Secretary of State of the United States, Marco Rubio, of “offer immediate humanitarian aid to the Cuban people” After the passage of the devastating hurricane Melissa unleashed mixed responses among officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MINREX) of the Island: while a vice minister confirmed contacts with Washington to find out details of the proposal, other figures from the Foreign Ministry and even “cyber combatants” conditioned any assistance to the lifting of sanctions and the removal of Cuba from the US list of sponsors of terrorism.
This Thursday, Rubio announced in X the willingness of his government to provide aid to the Cuban people.
“Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in eastern Cuba, the Trump Administration stands in solidarity with the brave Cuban people, who continue to struggle to meet their basic needs. As in neighboring Caribbean countries, the State Department issues a Declaration of Humanitarian Need for Cuba and is prepared to provide immediate humanitarian assistance, both directly and through local partners who can distribute it more effectively to those in need,” the State Department confirmed in a statement.
In the wake of Hurricane Melissa’s devastation of eastern Cuba, the Trump Administration stands with the brave Cuban people who continue to struggle to meet basic needs.
The United States is prepared to provide immediate humanitarian assistance directly and via local partners…
—Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) October 30, 2025
Likewise, the entity specified that US legislation contemplated “exemptions and authorizations for private donations of food, medicine and other humanitarian goods to Cuba, as well as for disaster response” and encouraged those who wish to “directly support the Cuban people” to get in touch.
Shortly after the announcement was made, the vice minister of MINREX Carlos F. de Cossío confirmed in X negotiations with Washington: “Following public communications today about the damage from the hurricane, we have contacted the State Department and are awaiting clarification on how and in what way they are willing to help.”
The message was responded to by Juan Antonio Fernández Palacios, ambassador of the Cuban regime in the Kingdom of Belgium and before the European Union, who pointed out: “No handouts or conditions. The international community, overwhelmingly, has said what they have to do. Nothing more to say.” The official was alluding to the resolution approved this Wednesday at the UN General Assembly, where 165 member states voted to end Washington’s embargo on Havana.
Josefina Vidal, another of the vice ministers of MINREX and one of the most visible figures during the so-called thaw between Cuba and the United States, also responded: “The moment of truth has arrived. We will be very attentive,” wrote.
Much less receptive was her colleague, Vice Chancellor Anayansi Rodríguez Camejo, who claimed humanitarian exceptions to the embargo before any aid: “If the United States Government has any slightest concern about ‘helping the Cuban people’, suspend or make humanitarian exceptions to the blockade due to the damage that Hurricane Melissa will cause and is causing,” he wrote in X.
The line of rejection was reinforced by Roberto Morales Ojeda, member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC): “Unworthy offer of help to victims of the hurricane by Secretary Marco Rubio. If it were sincere will of that government to support our people, they would have unconditionally lifted the criminal blockade and removed it from the list of States sponsoring terrorism, where we should never have been.”
Due to his place in the Central Committee of the PCC, Morales Ojeda’s position can be assumed to be the closest to the island’s regime.
In addition to the messages from senior officials, pro-government accounts known as “cyberclarias” or “cybercombatientes” amplified the official framing against the offer. In an apparent attempt to devalue the offer, the l bot identified as Pedro de la Rosa Sánchez, who identified himself as part of the #DeZurdaTeam group, wrote: “There is the alleged offer of ‘humanitarian aid to the Cuban people affected by the hurricane’ launched by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who has been the main defender of the economic blockade against the Island.”
Several investigations place the #DeZurdaTeam network as a coordinated network of profiles that promotes pro-government labels and narratives in X. In similar situations, this ecosystem has been documented by the Stanford Internet Observatory and independent Cuban media for its role in propaganda and digital harassment.
Although Havana has not yet released a complete official report, international agencies report severe damage after the cyclone passed through the Caribbean and confirm the deployment of US response teams to neighboring countries.
In short, Washington offered help and Havana, until now, has not accepted. Although they are only following orders, it now seems that everything depends on which vice minister prevails. His boss, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, is still silent.
