Cuba asks Mexico to conceal humanitarian aid data out of fear of "dissidents"; Sheinbaum responds



Claudia Sheinbaum and Miguel Díaz-CanelPhoto © Collage / Claudia Sheinbaum and Presidency Cuba

The government of Cuba requested Mexico to keep information about humanitarian aid shipments to the island secret for five years, claiming that its disclosure could facilitate actions by dissident groups that would attempt to sabotage its distribution.

The revelation was made by the Mexican newspaper El Universal, which cites official documents from the Secretariat of Foreign Relations (SRE), detailing that the request was communicated through a diplomatic note addressed to the Mexican government.

According to that information, Cuban authorities argued that the arrival of aid has led to the emergence of “dissidents” and “antagonistic groups” who allegedly spread information to incite the population to organize, boycott donations, and even appropriate them.

The document warns that making the details public could lead to “social chaos, ungovernability, and the insurgency of confrontational groups,” in a context already marked by the internal crisis the country is experiencing.

Additionally, the government of Miguel Díaz-Canel stated that the release of this data could harm Mexico's international image and damage its diplomatic relations, while defending confidentiality as a measure of "human security" rather than a lack of transparency.

In recent months, Mexico has sent at least four shipments of aid to Cuba —including food and medicine— totaling over 3,100 tons intended for the civilian population.

However, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum publicly rejected that version and denied that her government had concealed information at the request of Havana. During her daily briefing, she stated that Mexico "has nothing to hide" and expressed her "pride in supporting the Cuban people."

“Cuba has never asked Mexico to withhold information,” stated the leader, who described the version circulated by the Mexican media as "false," reported the agency EFE.

Sheinbaum insisted that her administration maintains transparent records of exports and the aid sent, and emphasized that support for Cuba is in line with her country's diplomatic tradition.

The contradiction between what is revealed by official documents cited by the Mexican press and the public stance of the government raises new questions about the management of international aid to Cuba, amid a crisis that continues to directly impact millions of families on the island.

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CiberCuba Editorial Team

A team of journalists committed to reporting on Cuban current affairs and topics of global interest. At CiberCuba, we work to deliver truthful news and critical analysis.