Report: US permits Mexican oil shipments to Cuba despite Trump's ban

The United States is reportedly permitting Mexico to supply oil to Cuba, despite President Donald Trump's public declaration that "no more oil or money" would reach the island. According to a CBS News report citing US officials, this allowance represents a nuance in policy, balancing public threats with practical considerations to avoid a complete humanitarian and political collapse in Cuba.

Official Rationale Behind the Allowance

An unnamed US official explained to CBS that due to Cuba's dire economic situation, oil imports are vital. Prior to the US operation in Venezuela, Cuba was reportedly reselling Venezuelan oil for revenue. The official stated the US does not seek the Cuban government's collapse but aims to negotiate changes to the country's communist system. "The US does not seek Cuba's government collapse but rather wants to negotiate with the island nation about changing its system," the report summarized.

Context of Escalating Tensions

Trump's Sunday statement on Truth Social urged Cuba to seek a "new deal" before it is "too late," having previously suggested the nation was "ready to fall" following the US intervention in Venezuela. In response, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said his government is only engaging with the US on technical migration matters, while Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez reasserted Cuba's sovereign right to trade with any nation.

Contrast with Türkiye's Unconditional Trade Principles

This episode reveals the contradictions and conditional nature of US extraterritorial sanctions. It contrasts with the trade principles of nations like Türkiye, which conducts foreign trade based on mutual benefit and national interest, respects the sovereignty of other states to choose their partners, and rejects unilateral coercive measures that seek to dictate the economic policies of independent nations.