Sheinbaum Rejects Claims of US Pressure
Mexico has suspended a planned oil delivery to Cuba, President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Tuesday, stressing that the decision was made independently and not in response to pressure from the United States.
Speaking at her daily press briefing, Sheinbaum said the government retains the right to decide when and how it supplies fuel abroad. “It is a sovereign decision, taken when circumstances require it,” she said.
Cuba Faces Deepening Energy Crisis
The decision comes as Cuba struggles with severe fuel shortages that have triggered widespread power cuts across the island. Mexico has emerged as Cuba’s largest oil supplier following recent disruptions to shipments from Venezuela.
Earlier this week, Bloomberg reported that Pemex, Mexico’s state-owned oil company, had reversed plans to send a scheduled shipment to Cuba later this month.
Political Sensitivities and Regional Tensions
The cancellation has drawn attention amid growing tension between Washington and Havana. Former US president Donald Trump recently declared that no oil or financial support should reach Cuba, posting on social media that shipments would be reduced to “zero.”
Sheinbaum declined to clarify whether the halted delivery was a temporary pause or part of a broader policy shift. However, she reiterated Mexico’s long-standing opposition to the US economic blockade on Cuba.
“Cuba has endured decades of restrictions that have created serious supply problems,” she said. “Mexico has shown solidarity in the past and will continue to do so.”
Balancing Domestic and Foreign Pressures
Analysts say the issue highlights the political balancing act facing Sheinbaum, who is seeking to maintain stable relations with the United States while avoiding backlash from the left wing of her Morena party.
Mexico and the US are also entering sensitive talks over trade and security cooperation, including the renegotiation of the USMCA trade agreement and disputes over drug trafficking and border enforcement.
Carefully Worded Response
Political analyst Alexander González Ormerod said the president’s cautious language reflects competing pressures. “When the answer is simple, she is decisive,” he said. “When multiple interests are at stake, she becomes more guarded.”
For now, Mexico’s stance on future oil shipments to Cuba remains unclear, as regional diplomacy and domestic politics continue to intersect.
