Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has criticized the energy sanctions imposed by the Trump administration on Cuba, labeling them as "unjust" and accusing Washington of "suffocating" the Cuban people. This marks the strongest position she has taken publicly against the United States during her time in office.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, Sheinbaum asserted, "Mexico has every right to send fuel, whether for humanitarian or commercial reasons." She reaffirmed her commitment to maintain the program of Cuban doctors working in Mexico, contrasting with other Central American and Caribbean countries that ended such programs under U.S. pressure.
Former Mexican Ambassador to the United States, Arturo Sarukhan, described Sheinbaum's stance on Cuba as a "Rubicón moment," highlighting the political significance of this decision in the context of bilateral relations.
Cuba's Energy Crisis and Mexico's Response
However, the solidarity rhetoric clashes with a reality that Sheinbaum omitted: Mexico has not delivered a single barrel of oil to Cuba since late January this year. State-run oil company Pemex canceled a scheduled shipment on January 27 under pressure from the Trump administration, which shortly after signed Executive Order 14380 threatening tariffs on countries supplying fuel to the island.
The last confirmed shipment was the vessel Ocean Mariner, carrying approximately 86,000 barrels, which arrived in Havana in January.
The difficulty in maintaining Mexico's silence is compounded by the fact that the tariff threat lasted only three weeks: On February 20, the U.S. Supreme Court deemed the tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act illegal, and Trump ended those tariffs effective February 24.
Despite the legal hurdle disappearing nearly two months ago, Mexico has not resumed crude shipments to Cuba, not even as humanitarian aid, as Sheinbaum had promised back in January.
Alternative Forms of Aid
Instead, the Mexican government sent two ships with 814 tons of supplies in February, totaling over 2,000 tons of food in various shipments up to April. Sheinbaum also personally donated 20,000 pesos, around 1,000 dollars, to relief efforts.
In March, the president acknowledged that her administration was exploring "different alternatives" for resuming fuel supply, though no measures have been finalized.
Meanwhile, Cuba is enduring its worst energy crisis in decades, with blackouts lasting up to 30 hours a day and a peak generation shortfall of up to 1,885 megawatts, exacerbated by the simultaneous loss of Venezuelan oil following the capture of Nicolás Maduro on January 3.
Sheinbaum Addresses Human Rights Concerns
In the same Tuesday conference, Sheinbaum also condemned the deaths of 15 Mexican citizens in the custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), describing those detention centers as "incompatible with human rights standards and the protection of life."
The president mandated that Mexican consuls visit these centers daily instead of weekly and announced plans to bring the issue before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and the UN.
Sheinbaum's increasingly assertive rhetoric follows a recent change in Mexico's Foreign Ministry: former Foreign Minister Juan Ramón de la Fuente resigned due to health issues and was replaced by Roberto Velasco Álvarez, 38, confirmed by 81 votes in the Senate.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mexico's Stance on Cuba
Why hasn't Mexico resumed oil shipments to Cuba?
Despite the removal of legal obstacles, Mexico has not restarted oil shipments to Cuba since January due to ongoing deliberations on alternative strategies and political considerations.
What humanitarian aid has Mexico provided to Cuba?
Mexico has sent over 2,000 tons of food supplies to Cuba in various shipments, and President Sheinbaum personally contributed 20,000 pesos to relief efforts.
How has Sheinbaum addressed human rights issues in the U.S.?
Sheinbaum has condemned deaths of Mexican citizens in ICE custody and has directed Mexican consuls to increase their oversight of these detention centers, aiming to address the issue at international human rights forums.