President Claudia Sheinbaum has firmly defended Mexico's right to supply oil to Cuba, rebuffing American pressure to curtail energy exports to the island nation as tensions between Washington and its hemispheric neighbors escalate.
In remarks delivered at her daily press conference on Sunday, Sheinbaum asserted that Mexico maintains sovereign control over its energy exports and would not alter its commercial relationships based on external pressure, according to Reuters.
"Mexico is a sovereign nation, and we decide our own energy policy," Sheinbaum said. "Our relationship with Cuba is based on mutual respect and commercial interests. We will not be dictated to in this matter."
The public rebuke represents a significant assertion of Latin American independence at a moment when the United States is seeking regional support for its Middle East policy and facing resistance from traditional allies.
Mexico has maintained energy ties with Cuba for decades, with shipments increasing significantly over the past two years as the island nation struggled with severe fuel shortages. Mexican oil exports have helped keep Cuba's power grid operational and provided relief during the island's worst energy crisis in years.
American officials have privately urged Mexico to reduce or eliminate oil sales to Cuba, arguing that such supplies help sustain a government that opposes US interests in the region. However, the Biden administration had largely avoided public confrontation on the issue. The Trump administration's approach appears more direct, with reports suggesting that officials linked Mexican cooperation on to broader trade and immigration discussions.





