Mexico has dispatched fresh humanitarian shipments to Cuba as fuel shortages deepen under renewed U.S. pressure, while Canada prepares assistance of its own.
Two additional humanitarian aid vessels left the port of Veracruz on Tuesday, 24 February, carrying a combined 1,193 tonnes of provisions to the island. The logistics support ships Papaloapan and Huasteco are transporting beans, powdered milk and other essential goods, according to the newspaper El Universal.
The shipment includes 23 tonnes of humanitarian supplies collected by civil society groups with logistical support from the Mexico City government. The goods were gathered at a centre established in the capital’s Historic Centre and represent the first delivery from that initiative.
Officials said the voyage to Cuba is expected to take around four days. More than 350 naval personnel are involved in the operation, which also includes a crane and five forklifts to manage loading and unloading.
The latest deployment brings the total volume of aid sent under the administration of Claudia Sheinbaum to 814 tonnes, underscoring Mexico’s continued commitment to supporting Cuba’s humanitarian needs.
Mexico, previously the island’s second-largest fuel supplier, suspended cargoes in early February after Washington threatened tariffs on any country sending fuel to Cuba.
President Donald Trump, emboldened by the U.S. military’s seizure of ousted Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro during a deadly raid in January, has repeatedly spoken of taking action against Cuba and intensifying pressure on its leadership.
The United States has begun intercepting oil shipments bound for Cuba, targeting operators including Mexico’s state energy firm Pemex. Governments involved have been warned they could face tariffs if they fail to comply.
Trump has said that “Cuba will be failing pretty soon,” noting that Venezuela, once the island’s main supplier, has not recently sent oil or financial support. The Trump administration maintains that its measures are designed to increase pressure for political change in Cuba.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said it was in Cuba's "best interest to make very dramatic changes very soon."
The U.N. human rights office has said the U.S. raid in which Maduro was seized violated international law. Human rights experts have also argued that Trump’s approach to Venezuelan oil and pressure on Cuba reflects an imperial-style strategy.
Canada, another neighbour of the U.S., said on Monday, 23 February, that it plans to provide assistance to Cuba as the island grapples with severe energy shortages linked to U.S. restrictions on oil supplies.
“We are preparing a plan to assist. We are not prepared at this point to provide any further details of an announcement,” Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand said.
The U.N. has warned that unmet energy needs could trigger a humanitarian crisis. Canada said last week that it was monitoring the situation closely and was concerned about “the increasing risk of a humanitarian crisis” on the island.
Relations between Washington and Ottawa have also been strained under President Trump amid disputes over trade tariffs and his rhetoric regarding Greenland.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said late Monday that it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles laun...
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia hit at least six energy targets in deadly strikes across Ukraine, showing Moscow is unwilling t...
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has visited a newly opened defence museum displaying weapons developed under his leadership, including an intercont...
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a fresh attack on Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi authorities reported, a day after a strike claimed by Yemen's Houthis killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
Yemen's Houthis renewed warning to airlines, airport workers, and travellers against using Saudi airports, saying the warning should be taken seriously and that the kingdom “bore responsibility for failed interceptions”, a day after an attack on Riyadh's international airport that killed 12 people.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
The Kremlin on Monday rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to allow his country to hold presidential elections, saying it wanted an overall peace deal instead.
The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said late Monday that it intercepted and destroyed two ballistic missiles launched by the Houthi group toward Khamis Mushait in southwestern Saudi Arabia.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has visited a newly opened defence museum displaying weapons developed under his leadership, including an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching the United States.
Southeast Asian foreign ministers are set to discuss measures to tackle transboundary haze during preparatory meetings ahead of the ASEAN summit in November, as forest and land fires in Indonesia continue to affect air quality across the region, the Philippines said on Tuesday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia hit at least six energy targets in deadly strikes across Ukraine, showing Moscow is unwilling to accept the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Britain's Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said the United Kingdom believes Iran was likely behind an alleged plot connected to RAF Fairford, a military airbase in Gloucestershire in England that has played a role in U.S. operations against Iran, escalating tensions between London and Tehran.
Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has accused the Trump administration of using federal law enforcement for political purposes after authorities searched her Washington-area home as part of an ongoing criminal investigation.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment