Mexico Defies Trump, Pledges Fuel and Humanitarian Aid to Cuba

Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, announced Mexico will send humanitarian aid, including food, to Cuba this week.

“Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum, said Sunday she will send humanitarian aid, including food, to Cuba this week”

Associated Press

She said the government is seeking diplomatic and humanitarian routes to continue providing fuel while rejecting U.S. pressure to halt deliveries.

Associated Press

Sheinbaum denied discussing Cuban affairs with U.S. President Donald Trump after he later claimed he had asked her to suspend shipments.

Mexican officials said they are exploring diplomatic channels to resolve oil delivery issues while delivering urgent relief.

The decision follows Venezuela’s suspension of oil shipments after a U.S. operation that removed Nicolás Maduro, leaving Mexico as the main external supplier as Cuba faces acute shortages.

Reports disagree on how much Mexican oil is currently reaching Cuba and on how quickly supplies are dwindling.

The Associated Press cites Pemex shipments of nearly 20,000 barrels per day to Cuba from January through Sept. 30, 2025.

CiberCuba

Satellite-tracking experts cited in Devdiscourse say volumes fell to about 7,000 barrels per day after a high-profile U.S. visit.

Consultancy warnings quoted by The Guardian say Cuba could run out of fuel within weeks, underscoring divergent data points and a rapidly changing supply picture.

Washington has escalated pressure on Mexico and other countries that support Cuba by making public appeals and threatening tariffs.

“ByIván León Monday, February 2, 2026 - 09:36 Share on: The Cuban regime has done something that until recently seemed unthinkable:issuing an official statement without mentioning the blockade”

CiberCuba

Sources report both former President Trump’s direct public urging and U.S. executive action authorizing tariffs on countries selling oil to Cuba.

U.S. political figures and commentators criticized Mexico’s move to aid Cuba, with Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez calling the aid support for a 'murderous and cruel dictatorship,' according to Latin Times.

Mexican officials, including the foreign minister, say Mexico will continue humanitarian cooperation and seek legal and diplomatic clarity on sanctions.

Commentators and regional outlets emphasize the geopolitical stakes.

Some see Mexico's aid as an assertion of independence and a boost to regional influence, while U.S. outlets and politicians frame it as a provocation or policy misstep.

Devdiscourse

El-Balad explicitly describes the aid's "clear geopolitical overtones" and casts it as countering U.S. pressure and the embargo.

The Guardian highlights Mexico's balancing act, noting praise from Sheinbaum's Morena party at home and criticism from U.S. politicians abroad.

The Miami Herald and Latin Times report domestic and diaspora criticism in the U.S., suggesting the move could deepen bilateral tensions.

Mexico, meanwhile, stresses solidarity and legal justification for the aid.

It is uncertain how long Mexico can sustain fuel deliveries without triggering punitive measures, how quickly Cuban shortages will worsen, and whether diplomatic engagement with the U.S. will avert escalation.

Sources diverge on the scale and timeline: The Guardian warns of fuel exhaustion 'within weeks,' AP provides earlier Pemex shipment totals, and Devdiscourse reports satellite-based declines.

El Mundo

Taken together, these reports signal a high-risk, fast-moving humanitarian and diplomatic situation with contradictory data points that make short-term forecasting difficult.