Mexico pleads with US to lift Cuba oil embargo as food aid reaches Havana

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum is intensifying diplomatic efforts to persuade the United States to lift restrictions on oil supplies to Cuba, as two Mexican naval vessels arrived in Havana Thursday carrying more than 800 tons of humanitarian assistance. The shipment includes milk, meat products, rice, beans, and personal hygiene items, with a second delivery of 1.5 tons of powdered milk and beans pending. "Today the ships arrive. Once they return, we will send more support of a different kind," Sheinbaum announced during her morning briefing.

Humanitarian Crisis Amid Tightened Sanctions

President Donald Trump's administration has progressively tightened the economic embargo on Cuba, restricting oil shipments from allied nations and contributing to a deepening humanitarian crisis. International flights have diminished, the Cuban peso has depreciated significantly, and widespread power outages have affected millions. Mexico had become Havana's primary crude oil supplier following the cessation of Venezuelan shipments in December 2025 due to US blockade measures. However, Mexican oil deliveries halted after Washington issued a decree imposing tariffs on any nation supplying petroleum to the island.

Diplomatic Initiative and Dialogue Proposal

Sheinbaum has invested significant political capital in seeking an accommodation with Washington, proposing Mexico as a neutral channel for structured dialogue between the United States and Cuba. "It depends on both countries," Sheinbaum stated. "We have conveyed, both to the United States Department of State and through the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, that Mexico is doing everything in its power to help generate a dialogue that, within the framework of Cuba's sovereignty, creates the conditions for a peaceful resolution and allows Cuba—without any country imposing sanctions—to receive oil and its derivatives for its daily functioning." She insisted existing sanctions harm ordinary Cuban citizens more than the island's political leadership.