The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaumannounced this Sunday that his country will send humanitarian aid to Cuba this week, although for now it will not include oil.
The aid is made up of food, household goods and basic products, according to the president, who noted that her Government seeks to resolve “through all diplomatic channels” the resumption of oil shipments, which are key to sustaining a minimum of activity on the island.
The decision occurs in a difficult balance with the United States, which does not stop pressing to cut Cuba’s ties with its allies and has tightened the economic siege with new sanctions.
On Thursday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring Cuba a national security risk and imposing tariffs on countries that supply oil to the island.
The measure, considered by Havana as a twist to the embargo/blockade of more than six decades, seeks to radically limit Cuba’s access to energy and essential resources.
Trump stated that he had asked Sheinbaum to suspend oil shipments to Cuba and assured that the Mexican president had responded favorably. “Sheinbaum was very good. I told her: ‘look, we don’t want them to send oil there,’ and she is not sending oil,” he told the press.
Mexico warns of a “far-reaching humanitarian crisis” in Cuba if it does not receive oil
Mexico remains cautious
Sheinbaum commented days before about the temporary suspension of crude oil shipments, and argued that the state-owned Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) makes decisions based on the contractual relationship with Cuba.
“Just like for a while it wasn’t sent and then it was sent, and another time it wasn’t sent,” he said.
The Mexican president stressed that the issue of Cuba was not addressed in her telephone conversation with Trump, but in a subsequent dialogue between the Mexican Foreign Minister, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, and the US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio.
While the energy situation is being defined, Sheinbaum announced that the Mexican Navy will be in charge of sending humanitarian aid to Cuba. “We diplomatically resolve everything that has to do with the shipment of oil for humanitarian reasons,” he explained.
Mexico has supported Cuba for years with humanitarian assistance and energy supplies, and now seeks to maintain that commitment without aggravating tensions with its main trading partner, the United States, in the midst of negotiations for the renewal of the T-MEC treaty.
Total trade between Mexico and the United States in 2025 exceeded $490 billion in Mexican exports to the United States, consolidating Mexico as its main trading partner. Together, bilateral exports and imports were around 665 billion dollars, reflecting the high economic interdependence between both countries.
Cuba will face a serious crisis in a few weeks if it does not receive more oil, says expert
The void left by Venezuela
The Cuban energy crisis worsened after the suspension of oil shipments from Venezuela, which for more than two decades has been the main fuel supplier to the island.
The closure of these shipments – something that has not been officially confirmed by Havana and Caracas, but has been emblazoned by Washington – is a consequence of the US attack on Venezuela at the beginning of the year that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, both now in a maximum rigor and security prison in New York awaiting trial.
Cuba requires around 110 thousand barrels of oil per day, according to different estimates and in the absence of official data. Of this amount, around 40 thousand come from its national crude oil production, with approximately two thirds must be imported.
According to international experts, Venezuela sent an average of 27,000 barrels per day to Cuba last year —although with monthly fluctuations—, far from the up to 100,000 per day that it provided during the period of greatest collaboration.
Meanwhile, Mexico would have contributed between 6 thousand and 12 thousand, according to different sources, although these shipments would have already begun to decrease in the final months of the year. Russia, for its part, sent between 6,000 and 7,000 barrels per day, although in spaced shipments.
The reduction in these supplies has hit electricity generation and other sectors such as transportation and agriculture hard, although its effect is felt throughout the country’s economic fabric and daily life.
Mexican political forces support the government
The president of the Senate, Laura Itzel Castillo, recognized Sheinbaum’s humanitarian policy and highlighted that Mexico reaffirms its historical commitment of friendship and cooperation with Cuba.
“We will be attentive to the diplomatic resolution on the shipment of oil, to continue supporting with sovereignty and adherence to international law,” he stated on social networks.
For its part, the legislative alliance Together We Continue Making History, made up of the ruling Morena party, the Labor Party and the Ecologist Green Party, supported the president’s position. “Providing humanitarian aid is defending international law and universal values,” he said in a statement.
Meanwhile, Morena also expressed his solidarity with Cuba and rejected the imposition of tariffs by the United States. “These decisions do not impact governments, but rather the people, as they limit access to essential services such as energy, health and food,” he warned.
The ruling party reiterated its absolute support for Sheinbaum and the foreign policy that privileges dialogue and diplomacy. “We believe in the dignity of people, in the sovereignty of nations and in the peace that is built from respect,” he concluded.
