Rubio Offers Cuba New Relationship and $100m in Aid

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has offered Cuba a "new relationship" with the United States and pledged $100m in aid for food and medicine. In a video released to mark Cuba's Independence Day, he also accused the country's leadership of corruption and of responsibility for shortages of electricity, food and fuel.

Rubio said the aid must be distributed by the Catholic Church or other credible charities. "The real reason you don't have electricity, fuel, or food is because those who control your country have plundered billions of dollars", he said.

The Cuban embassy in Washington responded by accusing Rubio of lying and the United States of subjecting the island to "cruelty and aggression".

The Trump administration also plans to announce criminal charges against former Cuban president Raul Castro in connection with the 1996 downing of planes flown by Cuban exiles.

(reuters, bak)