Mexico defies Trump pressure with humanitarian aid to Cuba

Monday 02 February 2026 - 12:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Mexico defies Trump pressure with humanitarian aid to Cuba

Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum announced on Sunday that her government will dispatch humanitarian aid to Cuba this week, including food, medicines, and essential supplies. This move directly challenges U.S. President Donald Trump's claim that Mexico had agreed to halt oil shipments to the Caribbean nation following his recent demand.

Speaking at an official event in the northern state of Sonora, Sheinbaum stated the assistance would be coordinated by the Navy Secretariat to alleviate shortages affecting Cuban families, hospitals, and vital services. She firmly denied discussing Cuban affairs during her Thursday phone call with Trump, emphasizing her administration's commitment to resolving oil delivery issues through diplomatic channels for humanitarian reasons.

The announcement highlights a public rift between the two leaders. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Saturday that Sheinbaum had been cooperative and ceased oil exports to Cuba at his request. Sheinbaum countered unequivocally: her government never addressed the oil issue with Trump concerning Cuba.

Mexico views aid to Cuba as a sovereign decision rooted in decades of foreign policy supporting the Cuban people during hardships. State-owned Petróleos Mexicanos shipped around 20,000 barrels of crude oil daily to Cuba through the first three quarters of 2025, accounting for roughly 44 percent of the island's petroleum imports.

This gesture comes amid Cuba's worst energy crisis since the Soviet Union's collapse. Data analytics firm Kpler reports Cuba holds only 15 to 20 days of oil reserves. The island received just one Mexican oil delivery in 2026; 84,900 barrels arrived on January 9, compared to an average of 37,000 barrels daily from various sources last year.

Power outages lasting up to 20 hours daily have become routine, with the national grid operating at half capacity. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel denounced Trump's measures as evidence of his administration's "fascist, criminal, and genocidal" policies.

Regional tensions escalate following Trump's Thursday executive order, which threatens tariffs on goods from any country supplying oil to Cuba. The White House labels the island an "extraordinary threat" to U.S. national security, citing alleged Russian intelligence facilities and terrorist groups there.

Pressure intensified after U.S. military operations in Venezuela early this month ousted President Nicolás Maduro, stripping Cuba of its primary oil supplier. Energy expert Jorge Piñón from the University of Texas Energy Institute warns that without fresh shipments, Cuba risks a major crisis, severe rationing, and potential collapse of essential services.

Trump hinted at possible negotiations with Cuba, telling reporters he would be "benevolent" and anticipates a deal. Yet with Sheinbaum pressing ahead on humanitarian aid and Díaz-Canel vowing a firm response, the standoff shows no signs of easing.