Mexico Sends Aid to Cuba Amid Trump Threats to Halt

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced that her government will send humanitarian aid to Cuba this week, despite growing pressure from the United States to cut off oil supplies to the island.

Sheinbaum announced the decision at a Sunday event and rejected claims that the issue was discussed during a recent 40-minute phone call with US President Donald Trump.

On Friday, Trump publicly said he asked Mexico to halt oil shipments to Cuba and has threatened tariffs against countries that continue supplying fuel to the communist-run island.

Cuba is facing a severe economic crisis. Fuel shortages have triggered daily blackouts lasting more than 12 hours, straining hospitals, food distribution and basic services.

The situation worsened after Venezuela suspended oil exports to Cuba following a US military operation in January that removed President Nicolás Maduro from power.

Mexico has since become Cuba’s main oil supplier. Pemex previously shipped nearly 20,000 barrels of oil per day to the island, though recent figures suggest volumes have declined under US pressure.

Sheinbaum warned that cutting supplies could trigger a “large-scale humanitarian crisis” for the Cuban population.

The United States has enforced a trade embargo on Cuba since 1962.