Cuba considers US offer of $100 million in aid, cautiously due to Trump's motives and blockade

(Patria) - Cuba said on Thursday it would consider an offer of $100 million in humanitarian aid from the United States, but expressed skepticism about President Donald Trump's intentions at a time when the US oil blockade on the island has crippled public services, Reuters reports.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said the island's communist government was ready to consider the offer, but said there should be no conditions.

"We hope it will be without political maneuvers and attempts to exploit the difficulties and suffering of a besieged people," Rodriguez said on social media.

Last week, the US State Department said it had offered $100 million in aid to Cuba, in addition to "free and fast satellite internet" on the condition that the island's government agrees to "significant reforms."

Rodriguez denied that the Trump administration had made such an offer, calling it a "fairy tale." The Trump administration then reiterated the offer in a statement on Wednesday.

Living conditions in Cuba have deteriorated dramatically after Trump threatened tariffs in January on any nation supplying the island with fuel. Key allies Mexico and Venezuela have since cut off oil supplies to Cuba, leading to a severe shortage of fuel and electricity.

Last week, the United Nations called Trump's fuel blockade illegal, saying it hindered "the right of the Cuban people to development while undermining their rights to food, education, health, water, and sanitation."

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said his government would accept aid if it adhered to international norms on humanitarian assistance.

However, the Cuban leader called the offer "inconsistent and paradoxical," adding that Washington could do more to help Cuba by simply lifting sanctions.

Diaz-Canel said Cuba's priorities for the use of funds would be fuel, food, and medicine.

The Trump administration has called the current communist government corrupt and incompetent and seeks to replace it, despite ongoing talks.

Talks appear to have stalled in recent weeks, although the Cuban government confirmed on Thursday that it had met with CIA chief John Ratcliffe.

Ratcliffe told intelligence officials in Cuba that the United States was ready to engage on economic security issues if Cuba made "fundamental changes," a CIA official said.