More humanitarian aid arrives as Cuba struggles under weight of U.S.-imposed energy blockade

After a nearly-four-day journey from Mexico, the first boat of a humanitarian flotilla to Cuba docked at a harbor in Havana, the capital city of Cuba, on Tuesday.

This marked the arrival of the second group of the “Nuestra America” or “Our America” convoy, an international humanitarian effort aimed at assisting Cubans struggling with a severe economic and energy crisis due to U.S. sanctions.

On board, around 30 activists waved flags and banners reading "Let Cuba Live!" They brought with them medicines, solar panels, food and other essential items.

The humanitarian movement includes unionists, doctors, parliamentarians and friends of Cuba from over 30 other countries. It began last week with air shipments carrying approximately 50 tons of aid.

"It is remarkable. I mean it is the least we can do. I'm from the United States and my government is imposing this cruel, illegal policy. But the people, like the Cuban people, they want to survive, they want to do more than survive, they want to thrive," said a convoy activist.

"For me inside, it's a great honor to be here. We are just representing hundreds and millions of hearts and solidarity movements and people from around the world, Latin America, [including] Addy Ayala, that bring to us and to Cuba this aid," said another convoy activist.

This international action comes as Cubans face a severe energy crisis, along with shortages of basic food, medicines and services exacerbated by the U.S. sanctions.

Activists, including well-known politicians, have visited several hospitals and healthcare centers where they delivered donations of medicine, including drugs for cancer patients.

"We have arrived with our own suitcases full, even the people from my office have brought 60 kilos of medical equipment to Cuba, and we've got lots, lots more coming by sea later on, so we are trying to break the blockade in that way," said Jeremy Corbyn, a British politician.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and other officials welcomed the first activists who arrived in Cuba by air last week at a gathering at Havana's Convention Center.

"This convoy, 'Nuestra America', has special meaning for us because they are our brothers and sisters bringing us part of what they've got, depriving themselves of certain things only to support Cuba," said Argelio Abad, Cuba's First Deputy Energy Minister in an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN).

Many activists have also taken time to meet and engage with the Cuban people at cultural and recreational centers.

The activists have pledged that, in the face of tough times, Cubans can always count on their support, and also pledged their commitment to stand with Cuba.

More humanitarian aid arrives as Cuba struggles under weight of U.S.-imposed energy blockade

More humanitarian aid arrives as Cuba struggles under weight of U.S.-imposed energy blockade

Esko Aho, former Finnish prime minister, has stressed the importance of mutual understanding and cooperation between Asia and Europe, values he said underpin the importance of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2026.

In an exclusive interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Esko Aho, who was in Boao, south China's Hainan Province, for the BFA annual conference, emphasized the need for greater understanding between Asia and Europe as the two continents pursue closer economic and political ties.

"I think when looking at Europe and Asia, there are a lot of similarities. We are technology-oriented. We have a lot of common interests to keep world trade to be fair and open. But then we also have differences. It's very important that Asia understands European minds and vice versa. For us, it's very important to understand the Asian minds in order to do good business, or to be good in politics, you have to be able to recognize these differences," he said.

On the role that Finland and the Nordic region can play in building up that understanding, he emphasized their predisposition to trust.

"The level of trust is very high in all Nordic countries. That is something which is making a difference in Europe, but I can say that even globally, it's very difficult to identify any other part of the globe where a level of trust between people is so high as it is in the Nordic region," he said.

Founded in 2001, the BFA has grown into a key platform for addressing Asian issues and strengthening cooperation both within the region and globally.

Aho described the forum as a window for the world to better understand China and a platform for exchanging views on global trends, adding that such dialogue helps foster cooperation and the development of common rules.

"It has been a window to see what's going on in China. For foreigners, it's a great opportunity to understand internal processes in China. This is a place for dialogue, so that we foreigners, we feel that when we are coming here, we are able to tell from our perspective, how do we see the world's global trends and developments. And in that way, let's say, to learn, to work together, which is so important in the future, because I cannot see that we are able to solve the problems of the world without having collaboration. We need collaboration and common rules," he said.

Themed "Shaping a Shared Future: New Dynamics, New Opportunities, New Cooperation", this year's BFA annual conference is scheduled to run from Tuesday to Friday. It will focus on four core topics and feature more than 50 sub-forums, roundtables and dialogue sessions.

Boao Forum boosts mutual understanding between Europe, Asia: former Finnish PM