Mexico will stop sending oil to Cuba, Trump says

Mexico said it will stop sending oil to Cuba as U.S. President Donald Trump ramped up pressure on the Caribbean nation.

"Mexico is gonna cease sending them oil," Trump told reporters in the White House Oval Office on Monday (2 February). He did not elaborate on why he believed this to be the case.

Mexican authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mexico is the single-largest supplier of oil to Cuba, which regularly suffers from energy shortages and mass blackouts.

Cuba depends heavily on imported refined fuel for electricity, gasoline and aviation needs, but U.S. sanctions and a deep economic crisis have long limited its ability to buy enough supplies, leaving it reliant on a small group of allies.

Reuters has reported that the Mexican government is reviewing whether to keep sending oil to Cuba, as it worries that Mexico could face reprisals from the United States over its policy to do so.

President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration said on Sunday (1 February) it would seek to ship oil to Cuba for humanitarian reasons, “without seeking confrontation." But they also said aid would consist of "other" products for the coming week.

Tensions flared last month between Havana and Washington following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, a long close ally of Cuba.

• Venezuelan oil exports progressing slowly under supply deal with U.S.
• U.S. releases legal memo justifying capture of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro
• Washington scolds Cuba after crowds heckle U.S. diplomat

Trump has labelled Cuba "an unusual and extraordinary threat" to U.S. national security and threatened tariffs on the U.S.-bound exports of any nation that sends oil to the communist-run island.

Cuba and the United States are in communication, a Cuban diplomat told Reuters on Monday, although he said the exchanges have not yet evolved into a formal "dialogue." Trump has also said the two sides are talking.

• Mexico weighs diplomatic path as U.S. tariffs threaten Cuba oil lifeline

Mexico and many regional analysts think Cuba could face a humanitarian crisis if the country loses access to energy. Other countries might not make up for a shortfall from Mexico, given Washington's threats.

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Politics Trump Cuba Sanctions latin america energy crisis Mexico Oil Policy Nicolas Maduro Mexico U.S.