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.
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A power outage struck most of Cuba, including Havana, the state electric utility said on Wednesday (5 March), as the Communist-run government grapples with increased pressure from the Trump administration that has curtailed oil shipments.
Cuba has released extensive details of a deadly midweek shootout at sea, showing rifles, pistols and nearly 13,000 rounds of ammunition that it says were carried by a group of exiles who attempted to enter the island by speedboat.
Four people were killed and six detained after armed Cuban exiles aboard a Florida-registered speedboat were intercepted at sea on Wednesday, drawing swift reactions from Washington, Havana and Moscow.
The situation in Cuba was heating up and called for restraint following a deadly incident involving a Florida-registered speedboat off the coast of the Caribbean island, the Kremlin said on Thursday (26 February).
Tensions in the region remained high on Tuesday (10 March), as the United States and Iran exchanged increasingly sharp warnings, including threats over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil supplies.
Global oil prices surpassed $119 a barrel on Monday (9 March, 2026), an almost four year high, as the Middle East conflict rumbled on.
China has urged Afghanistan and Pakistan to resolve their dispute through dialogue after Chinese envoy Yue Xiaoyong met Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, as fighting between the two neighbours entered its eleventh day.
Entry and exit across the state border between Azerbaijan and Iran for all types of cargo vehicles, including those in transit, will resume on 9 March, according to a statement by the Cabinet of Ministers of Azerbaijan.
Iran named Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his father Ali Khamenei as supreme leader on Monday (9 March), signaling that hardliners remain firmly in charge, as the week-old U.S.-Israeli war with Iran pushed oil above $100 a barrel.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Mike Waltz, has addressed the U.N. Security Council, saying the world must consider how effective its engagement with the Taliban-run country is as millions face hunger.
British MPs have rejected a proposal to introduce an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s, opting instead to give ministers flexible powers to impose restrictions on platforms.
Australia has granted humanitarian visas to five Iranian women footballers who sought asylum, fearing persecution after refusing to sing their national anthem at an Asia Cup match.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 10th of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump called his recent phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin “very good.” The two leaders spoke on Monday about the situation in Iran and other international issues.
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