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A driver refuels others wait in a protracted line behind to refill at a gasoline station in Havana, Cuba, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026.
Ramon Espinosa/AP
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Ramon Espinosa/AP
MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated Tuesday her authorities has not less than quickly stopped oil shipments to Cuba, however struck an ambiguous tone, saying the pause was a part of basic fluctuations in oil provides and that it was a “sovereign determination” not made below stress from the US.
Sheinbaum was responding to inquiries on whether or not the state oil firm Pemex had reduce off oil shipments to Cuba within the wake of mounting stress from U.S. President Donald Trump that Mexico distance itself from the Cuban authorities, although U.S. officers haven’t publicly requested that Mexico cease the oil.
“Pemex makes choices within the contractual relationship it has with Cuba,” Sheinbaum stated in her morning information briefing. “Suspending is a sovereign determination and is taken when crucial.”
Sheinbaum’s imprecise statements come as Trump has sought to isolate Cuba and additional ramp up the stress on the island, a longtime adversary below strict financial sanctions from Washington. Trump has stated the Cuban authorities is able to fall, and that the island would obtain no extra oil shipments from Venezuela after a U.S. navy operation deposed former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
In its deepening vitality and financial disaster, Cuba has relied closely on international help and oil shipments from allies like Mexico, Russia, and — beforehand — Venezuela.
Mexico has sought to steadiness its long-term help of Cuba’s authorities with stress from Trump for Latin American leaders to fall consistent with his imaginative and prescient for the area.
Sheinbaum stated Tuesday that Mexico would proceed to point out solidarity with Havana, however did not make clear what sort of help Mexico would supply.
Mexico has confronted its personal stress from Washington, as Trump has threatened to take navy motion in opposition to Mexican drug cartels.
Mexico final week transferred dozens of suspected cartel members to the US to face justice. They have been sought by the Trump administration, however Sheinbaum used comparable language on the time as she did Tuesday, saying the transfers have been made on a sovereign and autonomous foundation.
Mexican oil has lengthy acted as a key lifeline for Cuba. In its most up-to-date report, Pemex stated it shipped almost 20,000 barrels of oil per day to Cuba from January via Sept. 30, 2025. That month, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Mexico Metropolis. Afterward, Jorge Piñon, an skilled on the College of Texas Power Institute who tracks shipments utilizing satellite tv for pc know-how, stated the determine had fallen to about 7,000 barrels.
Sheinbaum has spent weeks saying she would offer clear knowledge on exports to Cuba, however has but to take action. The Cuban authorities and Pemex didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Piñon stated that whereas the way forward for shipments from Mexico stays unsure, what was clear is that Sheinbaum is “strolling a tightrope” between her political rhetoric supporting Cuba and upcoming commerce settlement negotiations with the U.S.
Analysts now anticipate additional stress from Washington to halt these shipments extra completely, given Trump’s rising calls for that Mexico ship stronger leads to the combat in opposition to drug cartels.
In the meantime, dozens of drivers waited hours in lengthy traces — widespread on the island — to refill their automobiles with gasoline, saying they’d heard the information. Whereas some stated they weren’t notably anxious and stated they might discover a manner ahead, others expressed deep nervousness over what the longer term would possibly maintain.
Rolando Graña, 40, spent two hours of his break day in a gasoline line. For the airport worker, it was a hunt for gasoline fairly than a day of relaxation.
“That is going to have an effect on us much more now,” Graña stated.
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