Mexico’s Sheinbaum Defends Aid to Cuba as Trump Threatens New Tariffs

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum is warning that Donald Trump’s threat to impose additional tariffs on countries that send oil to Cuba could trigger a large-scale humanitarian crisis, directly affecting hospitals, food supplies and basic services for the Cuban people. While reaffirming Mexico’s commitment to international law, she called on Washington to avoid actions that could worsen Cuba’s economic crisis.

Sheinbaum also announced that Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs Juan Ramón de la Fuente has been instructed to contact the U.S. State Department to clarify the scope of the executive order published yesterday and to convey Mexico’s concern about its humanitarian consequences. Mexico, she said, will continue exploring ways to provide humanitarian assistance to Cuba, consistent with its long-standing tradition of solidarity.

TRANSCRIPT

“Regarding the shipment of oil to Cuba, you mentioned yesterday that it was a sovereign decision, a decision by Petróleos Mexicanos, but the timing of when this shipment was allegedly suspended has drawn attention, precisely at a moment when the Cuban people would need it more than ever,” said Ricardo Pérez, a journalist with Diario Red América Latina. “This is due to what is happening with Venezuela, which was one of the main oil suppliers, and also because of the immense need for fuel among the Cuban people, since it is indispensable for electricity generation and in the context of the blockade,” he added. “So I want to ask why, at this moment, and whether there should also be political sensitivity on the part of Petróleos Mexicanos in making this decision at such a time,” Pérez continued.

“I’m glad you asked so that I can clarify what was said yesterday,” explained Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico. “There are two channels through which oil is delivered to Cuba. One is through contracts that Petróleos Mexicanos establishes with an institution of the Cuban government. That is one channel, and under that contract, Pemex determines, according to its terms, when shipments are made,” she said.

“The other channel is humanitarian aid, through which oil is also sent, just as other items are sent as humanitarian aid,” the Mexican leader continued. “For example, the United States recently sent humanitarian aid to the island, and other countries have also sent humanitarian aid to Cuba. That is why I say it is a sovereign decision of Mexico to send humanitarian aid, and in the case of Pemex, shipments are determined by the terms of the contract,” she added.

“I never said that it had been suspended. It had not been suspended,” Sheinbaum clarified. “That was a later interpretation based on a report that appeared in a newspaper. Therefore, humanitarian aid to Cuba, as to other countries, continues, because it is humanitarian aid, and Mexico has always been in solidarity with the entire world. These are sovereign decisions,” she emphasized.

“Will the shipment of crude oil continue in terms of humanitarian aid?” Pérez asked.

“Well, that is something we have to determine based on the requests that are received,” the president concluded.