President Claudia Sheinbaum vowed Mexico will continue to show "solidarity" with Cuba after reports that a January oil shipment was canceled. Mexico has become a key supplier of discounted fuel to Cuba, which relies on allied deliveries to mitigate a US trade embargo and ongoing energy shortages. Reports and PDVSA data indicate Venezuela has not delivered fuel to Cuba for about a month, making Mexico's roughly 5,000 barrels per day last year particularly significant. Mexican officials say Pemex and the government make shipment decisions based on contracts and humanitarian considerations.
Mexico Reaffirms Solidarity With Cuba After Reports Of Canceled January Oil Shipment
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum attends a news conference at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico [Henry Romero/Reuters]
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her government will continue to show "solidarity" with Cuba after media reports that a planned January oil shipment to Havana was called off. She declined to confirm the reports but emphasized that decisions on fuel deliveries are sovereign and may be taken for humanitarian reasons.
Background
In recent years Mexico has become one of Cuba's main suppliers of discounted fuel. Cuba depends on favorable deliveries from allied countries to cope with a long-standing US trade embargo and persistent energy shortages that have affected electricity supplies across the island.
Venezuela previously provided a large share of Cuba's discounted crude, but shipping data and internal PDVSA documents indicate Caracas has not delivered crude or fuel to Cuba for roughly a month. That suspension has increased attention on Mexico's role: last year Mexico supplied about 5,000 barrels per day to Havana.
Sheinbaum's Response
"The decision to sell or give oil to Cuba for humanitarian reasons is a sovereign decision," Sheinbaum told reporters at her regular morning news conference. "It is determined by [Mexican state oil company] Pemex based on the contracts, or, in any case, by the government, as a humanitarian decision to send it under certain circumstances."
When pressed on whether shipments would resume, the president did not answer directly, saying only: "In any case, it will be reported." She reiterated that Mexico would "continue to show solidarity" with Cuba.
Diplomatic and Practical Implications
Reuters has reported that the Mexican government is reviewing whether to continue sending oil to Cuba amid internal concern that ongoing shipments could complicate relations with the United States. Mexican officials say Pemex and the government consider contractual obligations and humanitarian factors when arranging deliveries.
With Venezuelan shipments reportedly offline, Mexico's deliveries—roughly 5,000 barrels per day last year—are seen as important to Havana's energy outlook. Any change in Mexico's exports could further strain Cuba's already fragile power and fuel supplies, raising humanitarian and diplomatic questions for Mexico and its partners.
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