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The businessman Ricardo Salinas Pliego, owner of TV Azteca, harshly criticized the government of Mexico after it was revealed that Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex), through its subsidiary Gasolinas Bienestar, has exported thousands of barrels of crude oil and fuels to Cuba without disclosing the payments received for these operations.
In a message posted on social media X, the magnate claimed that the administration of President Claudia Sheinbaum "steals public money to support the Cuban dictatorial/totalitarian regime."
Additionally, he hinted that some of those resources could end up financing the ruling party Morena. "What remains unknown is how much of that money the Cubans return to the Morena party to support the communist cause in Mexico. A win-win situation!" he wrote.
The statements from Salinas Pliego come after a report from El Universal that documents how Gasolinas Bienestar refused to provide proof of payments from Cuba, arguing that as a private commercial company, it is not required to comply with transparency laws.
This position has been questioned by civil organizations. Eduardo Bohórquez, director of Transparencia Mexicana, noted that even though it is a private company, “the legal entity receives or exercises public resources,” and therefore must be accountable.
According to official data, between July 2023 and June 2025, Pemex sent between 19,000 and 23,000 barrels per day of crude oil and fuels to the island, with an approximate value of 1.3 billion dollars.
This figure represents 3.3% of the total exports of the state-owned oil company. However, the lack of clarity regarding the payments raises questions about whether Cuba is covering the cost of the shipments or if it is an undercover subsidy.
Investigations by Mexicanos Contra la Corrupción y la Impunidad revealed that between May and June 2025 alone, 39 shipments were sent with a value of 850 million dollars, an amount nearly equivalent to that of the previous two years combined.
In some customs documents, the Secretary of Foreign Relations is even listed as the importer, which reinforces suspicions about the opacity of the transactions.
The controversy has sparked debate on social media, where Salinas Pliego's message has garnered thousands of reactions. While some users support him, others accuse him of politicizing a complex issue amid the energy crisis in Cuba and the financial pressures facing Pemex, whose debt exceeds 100 billion dollars.
The truth is that the close energy cooperation between Mexico and Cuba continues despite criticisms from civil organizations, political opposition, and warnings from the United States, which in 2023 went as far as to cancel an 800 million dollar loan to Pemex after detecting fuel shipments to the island.
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