As Cuba grapples with a deepening economic and energy crisis exacerbated by tightened United States sanctions, the Caribbean island has received a critical 1,700-ton shipment of food and essential humanitarian supplies from Belize, with additional backing from Mexico. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has publicly extended his gratitude to both neighboring nations, framing the donation as a profound demonstration of international solidarity at a moment of extraordinary hardship for the Cuban public.
In an interview with local media, Oscar Arnold, Chief Executive Officer of Belize’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, explained that the aid gesture is rooted in decades of reciprocal friendship between the two countries. Arnold recalled that when Belize was campaigning for international recognition and building its newly independent nation in the decades past, Cuba played a pivotal role in rallying support for Belize’s sovereignty through the Non-Aligned Movement. That history of mutual support, he emphasized, creates an unbreakable bond that Belize has no intention of abandoning.
“You don’t forget your friends. You don’t cast your friends aside,” Arnold stated, reinforcing Belize’s unwavering commitment to standing with the Cuban people amid their current struggles.
Beyond the aid shipment, Arnold addressed the future of the Cuban Medical Brigade that has long provided critical healthcare support to Belize. The deployment of the brigade was initially structured for a fixed term, and as that end date approaches, Belize’s foreign and health ministries are now weighing strategic decisions about the program’s next chapter. Belize relies heavily on Cuban medical professionals to fill gaps in domestic healthcare access, particularly for high-demand specialized care that the country cannot easily source locally. Losing these specialized providers is both an undesirable and unaffordable outcome, Arnold noted, adding that multiple policy proposals to extend or restructure the partnership are currently under active review by the Ministry of Health.
Arnold also clarified the core principle guiding Belize’s independent foreign policy: the country’s support for Cuba does not equate to hostility toward any other nation. “We are friends of all and enemies to none,” he said, underscoring that Belize’s commitment to its long-standing ally aligns with its broader approach to global diplomacy.