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The president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, confirmed this Wednesday that her government will continue sending oil to Cuba under the premise of "humanitarian aid," although she acknowledged that Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) also maintains commercial contracts with institutions of the Cuban regime.
"There are two ways in which oil is sent to Cuba," Sheinbaum explained during her morning conference from Palacio Nacional. "One is through contracts that Pemex establishes with some institution of the Cuban government, and in those cases, the oil company determines when to send it and when not to. The other is humanitarian aid, which also includes oil, along with other items sent for humanitarian reasons," she noted.
The official clarified that her government has not suspended shipments, refuting claims that were circulating about a possible interruption following the diplomatic pressure from the United States.
"I never spoke about whether it had been suspended or not; that was a later interpretation," quoted the magazine Proceso.
Sheinbaum defended the continuation of shipments to the Cuban regime, assuring that it is a sovereign decision and that Mexico “has always been supportive of everyone.”
"Humanitarian aid to Cuba, like to other countries, continues because it is humanitarian aid," the president reiterated, comparing Mexican shipments with food or medical supplies donations made by other countries to the island.
However, he did not specify what volume of oil has been sent recently or under what economic or diplomatic conditions. Previous reports from the Bank of Mexico and Pemex confirmed that during the second half of 2025 more than 3 million barrels of Maya crude were dispatched to Cuba, which represented a temporary energy relief for the regime of Miguel Díaz-Canel.
Sheinbaum's statements come amid a climate of tension with Washington. Days ago, Cuban-American Congressman Carlos Giménez described Mexico's energy support to Havana as “shameful” and warned that “every barrel of oil sent to Cuba strengthens a murderous dictatorship”.
Giménez urged the administration of Donald Trump to include the issue in the renegotiation of the trade agreement with Mexico, stating that "one cannot speak of cooperation while a partner finances the Castro regime."
"I hope to meet with President Sheinbaum next week and make it clear that we want those shipments to stop. They are supporting a communist regime that oppresses its people," declared the Republican legislator from Florida.
In Cuba, shipments of Mexican oil have become the primary source of fuel since Venezuela drastically reduced its exports in 2025 following the collapse of the Nicolás Maduro regime.
Without that supply, the island faces widespread blackouts, industrial shutdowns, and an unprecedented transportation crisis.
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