Trump Announces Mexico Will Halt Oil Exports to Cuba Following Tariff Threat
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Monday that Mexico will discontinue its oil exports to Cuba, a decision made after the United States threatened to impose tariffs on nations supplying oil to the island.
During a press conference in the Oval Office, Trump stated:
"Cuba is a failed state. Mexico will stop sending oil to it," emphasizing that this action is part of a broader effort to exert pressure on the Cuban government.
Cuba is currently experiencing its most severe economic crisis since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, marked by frequent power outages and long queues at gas stations, largely due to its reliance on affordable Venezuelan oil.
On Thursday, Trump signed an executive order threatening tariffs on countries that persist in supplying oil to Cuba, while the Cuban government has accused the U.S. of attempting to undermine its economy.
In response, Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her commitment to providing humanitarian aid to Cuba, including food and essential supplies, while exploring ways to continue oil shipments despite U.S. pressures.
Following a phone call with Trump, she remarked:
"We never discussed the issue of oil for Cuba with President Trump,"
while Trump added from the Oval Office:
"I think we are very close to an agreement, but we are dealing with the Cuban leaders now," without providing further specifics.
Conversely, Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío told AFP that while there are exchanges of messages between Cuba and the U.S., no formal negotiations are currently taking place, stating:
"There is no dialogue in the literal sense of the word at the moment, but messages have been exchanged."
