Mexico’s Oil Shipments to Cuba Explained by Sheinbaum

Mexico City, Mexico — Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum clarified on Wednesday that oil shipments to Cuba are conducted through two distinct channels: via commercial contracts established by Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) and through humanitarian aid, which she emphasized is a sovereign decision of the Mexican state.

During her morning press conference, known as the “Mañanera del Pueblo,” the head of state explained that one modality corresponds to contractual agreements between Pemex and some institution of the Cuban government, in which the state-owned productive enterprise defines the timing and conditions of delivery according to what was agreed upon.

“There are two channels through which oil is delivered to Cuba. One is through contracts that Petróleos Mexicanos establishes with some institution of the Cuban government,” she specified.

Sheinbaum Pardo indicated that “the other is humanitarian aid, which also sends oil as humanitarian aid, like other things that are sent as humanitarian aid,” noting that recently the United States and other countries have also sent this type of support to the island.

The federal executive leader rejected that the crude oil supply had been suspended and clarified that this version stemmed from interpretations following a news report. “I never spoke about whether it had been suspended, it had not been suspended. That was my interpretation following a note that came out in a newspaper,” she specified.

In this sense, she affirmed that Mexico’s humanitarian aid to Cuba and other countries continues, and reiterated that it is a historical policy of solidarity. “Mexico has always been supportive of the whole world and these are sovereign decisions,” she maintained.

Regarding the continuity of oil shipments as humanitarian aid, Sheinbaum noted that its definition will depend on the requests that are presented. “We have to determine it based on the requests,” she responded to questioning from the press.