The President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, denied this Wednesday that her country has increased the "historic" shipment of oil to Cuba, although she acknowledged that Mexico has become an important supplier of crude oil for the island.
During her morning press conference in Mexico City, Sheinbaum stated that, despite investigations published by international media such as the Financial Times, Mexico is not sending “more oil than it has historically sent” to the Caribbean island.
Nevertheless, she acknowledged that the country has become a vital player in Cuba's fuel supply amid the current regional context, which is now exacerbated by the sharp decline in Venezuelan supplies following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces.
"Yesterday I asked Pemex, and they did not send me the exact information, but no more oil is being sent than has been historically. There is no specific shipment," Sheinbaum stated in response to questions about whether the administration had increased the volumes of crude sent to Cuba.
However, in October it also emerged that the shipments to Havana had tripled in the last six months.
The leader explained that the supply of oil to the Caribbean nation is part of prior contracts and "humanitarian aid," but she acknowledged that, due to the reduction in Venezuelan exports—formerly Cuba's main historical supplier—Mexico has taken on a more significant role.
Venezuelan crude oil shipments to Cuba have plummeted in recent years due to the decline in Venezuelan oil production and international sanctions, forcing Havana to seek alternative fuel sources, including Mexico and, to a lesser extent, Russia.
Sheinbaum recalled that the supply of Mexican oil to Cuba takes place "within a legal framework and as a sovereign country," and is based on historical agreements between both countries, some of which date back decades and have included debt forgiveness and energy cooperation, even during previous administrations.
The president also mentioned that Mexico has sent ships with fuel to Cuba to alleviate the energy crisis caused by blackouts, a situation that has worsened due to the decline in Venezuelan crude oil imports and the lack of refining capacity on the island.
Mexico's role as a supplier of oil to Cuba has raised concerns in certain sectors of the United States, especially following the military operation that captured Maduro.
Analysts and politicians in Washington have indicated that shipments from Mexico could further strain relations with the government of President Donald Trump, who has taken a tougher stance against the regimes in Cuba and Venezuela.
Meanwhile, the Cuban regime is facing a critical energy situation, with frequent blackouts and an increasing reliance on external supplies, making Mexico a key ally in maintaining some stability in fuel supply on the island.
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