Mexico to provide food aid to Cuba amid US fuel embargo

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum Announces Humanitarian Aid to Cuba Amid Ongoing Negotiations with US

President Sheinbaum announced on Friday that Mexico will ship humanitarian aid to Cuba, citing the country’s need for food and other essential supplies. The aid is expected to be delivered in the coming days, with a specific timeline not yet confirmed.

Sheinbaum also stated that her government will continue to engage in diplomatic efforts with the US to relax the oil blockade imposed on Cuba by President Donald Trump. The blockade has been in place since 1960 and restricts Cuba’s access to oil, which is necessary for powering its electrical grid.

The US has threatened to impose tariffs on any country that circumvents the energy blockade, including Mexico. Sheinbaum acknowledged this threat, stating that her government does not want sanctions against Mexico.

The announcement comes after Trump issued an executive order last week declaring Cuba’s communist government an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the US. The order requires a national emergency declaration and has led to increased pressure on the Cuban government.

As part of the Trump administration’s efforts, Venezuela has agreed to end its supply of oil and funds to Cuba. Mexico’s oil sales to Cuba totaled $496m in 2025, with the state-owned oil company Pemex framing the shipments as purely humanitarian.

The United Nations Secretary-General has expressed concern about the humanitarian situation in Cuba, warning that an unmet oil need could worsen the crisis. The US State Department has also announced additional humanitarian aid to Cuba, which will be delivered by the Catholic Church.

Cuba’s Deputy Foreign Minister has criticized this move, calling it “hypocritical” and stating that it is “quite duplicitous”.

Source: Al Jazeera