Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that her country is working to reactivate oil shipments to Cuba, amidst the tightening of the blockade imposed by the United States on the Caribbean nation. The statement was made during her regular press conference at the National Palace, in response to a question about the arrival of a Russian tanker carrying crude oil to the island.
Sheinbaum mentioned that Mexico has been sending material aid to Cuba and will continue to do so. “Humanitarian aid is one thing, and trade agreements we have with Cuba are another, and that also involves oil shipments,” the president clarified.
She added that these trade agreements have been in place “for decades, it’s not something new,” and that joint work with the Cuban government continues on both humanitarian and trade issues.
The head of the Executive Branch emphasized that Mexico has every right to send fuel, whether for humanitarian or commercial reasons, but reiterated that she does not wish to affect the United States, since “at one point there were tariffs (imposed by Washington) if fuel was sent.”
Sheinbaum explained that “the tariffs were later reduced, and we always sought humanitarian aid. It is in this context that we will make the decision, and we will always inform the public whether or not oil is sent to Cuba.”
On another note, the president mentioned the existence of private companies in Cuba that are seeking private actors for fuel supplies, not necessarily through government-to-government agreements.
“There are private companies that have approached us, for example, to buy fuel from Pemex (Petróleos Mexicanos) and deliver it to private companies in Cuba. That is one of the requests that private companies have made to Pemex. There are several companies, not just one,” she explained.
Sheinbaum reaffirmed her support for the Cuban people’s right to self-determination and the historic bilateral relationship between Mexico and Cuba. “No one should interfere, and if there is any problem related to that, there are multilateral organizations. There shouldn’t be one country’s intervention in another’s affairs. And the Mexico-Cuba relationship is historic. It’s not new; it’s historical, and we will continue to support the Cuban people,” she stated.
As part of these solidarity efforts, the mayor announced that she personally donated 20,000 pesos (approximately $1,104 USD) to a fundraising campaign published in the newspaper La Jornada, supported by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, to collect resources and purchase items for the island. This initiative complements the shipment of various products by the Mexican government.
The situation of the US blockade against Cuba and alternative energy supply options continue to be monitored in the region, while Mexico maintains its cooperative stance based on respect for sovereignty and the framework of international law.
IMAGE CREDIT: Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about oil shipments to Cuba during her press conference at the National Palace. Photo: EFE
[ SOURCE: teleSUR ]
