Mexico Says Halt of Oil Shipment to Cuba Is a Sovereign Decision in South America Context

Mexico has confirmed the cancellation of an oil shipment to Cuba, with President Claudia Sheinbaum stressing that the move was a sovereign decision and not the result of pressure from the United States.
Speaking at a press conference, Sheinbaum said the decision was taken independently and based on Mexico’s own assessment of the situation. She rejected suggestions that the cancellation followed warnings from Washington, which has recently intensified its rhetoric against Cuba.
Mexico has been Cuba’s main oil supplier since shipments from Venezuela were halted, and the suspension comes as the island faces worsening fuel shortages and power outages. While Sheinbaum did not clarify whether the cancellation was temporary or could signal a longer suspension, she reaffirmed Mexico’s longstanding opposition to the US blockade on Cuba.
She emphasized that Mexico has historically shown solidarity with Cuba and intends to continue doing so, despite the complex regional and diplomatic pressures involved.
The decision highlights the delicate balance Mexico is trying to maintain between asserting its foreign policy independence and managing relations with the United States amid broader trade and security discussions.