U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced an offer of $100 million [1] in food and medicine aid for the Cuban people on Wednesday.

The move represents a strategic shift in U.S. diplomacy, attempting to bypass the Cuban government to provide direct relief to citizens while increasing pressure on the state.

Rubio delivered the announcement in a video posted to social media, framing the assistance as a path toward a "new Cuba" [2]. He said the aid is intended to reach the population directly and not through GAESA, the military-run business conglomerate that manages much of the island's economy.

"President Trump offers a new Cuba, but it has to be direct with you Cubans, not with GAESA," Rubio said [3].

The Secretary of State called on the Cuban people to align themselves with the administration of President Trump to establish a new relationship between the two nations [4]. Rubio said the offer is meant to contrast the U.S. approach with the actions of the Cuban regime, which he accused of corruption and repression [5].

According to the announcement, the $100 million [1] package focuses on essential supplies, specifically food, and medicine, to address the ongoing humanitarian needs of the population [6]. The proposal is presented as a gesture of support for the people while maintaining a hard line against the governing authorities.

Rubio said the initiative is backed by President Trump as part of a broader effort to challenge the current political structure in Cuba [2].

“"President Trump offers a new Cuba, but it has to be direct with you Cubans, not with GAESA"”

This aid offer serves as a tool of 'soft power,' designed to undermine the legitimacy of the Cuban government by providing essential services directly to the populace. By explicitly excluding GAESA, the U.S. is attempting to weaken the economic grip of the Cuban military while positioning the Trump administration as a benevolent alternative to the current regime.