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.
Iranian and Qatari delegations are expected to meet on Wednesday in Doha to discuss the release of Tehran's assets, estimated at $12 billion, that wer...
Pakistan has responded to a deadly Karachi Rangers compound attack with cross-border strikes and diplomatic protests against Afghanistan, signalling a...
A severe heatwave in France has overwhelmed funeral services and mortuary storage facilities, with undertakers reporting they are unable to cope with ...
Greek rescue teams searched on Tuesday after a four-storey apartment building collapsed in the Petralona district of Athens. Four people initially fea...
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both...
The U.S. has arrested Adys Lastres Morera, the sister of the head of GAESA, a military-run business group which owns Cuba’s most profitable enterprises, including the island’s five-star hotels, and its largest port.
Russia pledged support for Cuba on Thursday after the U.S. indicted former Cuban president Raúl Castro on murder charges linked to the 1996 downing of exile planes, escalating tensions between Washington and Havana.
The Trump administration plans to announce criminal charges against former Cuban president Raul Castro next Wednesday, according to a U.S. Justice Department official, in a move that would escalate the pressure campaign against the island's communist government.
Widespread protests erupted across Havana on Wednesday evening as Cuba faced its worst rolling blackouts in decades after the government announced it had run out of diesel and fuel oil amid a tightening U.S. blockade.
Rescue teams raced on Sunday to find more survivors of the two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela this week, with signs of life bringing occasional relief to a grim quest to whittle down a list of tens of thousands missing.
Iranian and U.S. negotiating teams were due in Doha this week, but Iran said on Monday no meeting had been scheduled as weekend missile fire from both sides tested the interim ceasefire to end the four-month-old war.
The U.S. and Iran have agreed to 'stand down' and resume technical talks, allowing vessels allowed to move freely under the interim peace deal, a U.S. official said.
The United States and Iran have agreed to halt strikes against each other, in a potential breakthrough after weeks of escalating tensions. The two sides are expected to meet in Doha on Tuesday to address their dispute over the Strait of Hormuz.
Six adults were killed in a shooting at a youth welfare facility in northern Germany on Monday, with police detaining two people, including the suspected gunman.
A severe heatwave in France has overwhelmed funeral services and mortuary storage facilities, with undertakers reporting they are unable to cope with a surge in deaths linked to extreme temperatures.
Greek rescue teams searched on Tuesday after a four-storey apartment building collapsed in the Petralona district of Athens. Four people initially feared trapped were later found safe, while search operations continued as a precaution.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled a £15 billion (U.S.$20 billion) defence investment plan to modernise Britain's armed forces and prepare for future security threats. The announcement comes ahead of next month's NATO summit in Ankara.
Donald Trump's attempt to end automatic citizenship for some children born in the U.S. has suffered a major setback after the Supreme Court declined to embrace the central constitutional argument behind his policy.
Pakistan has responded to a deadly Karachi Rangers compound attack with cross-border strikes and diplomatic protests against Afghanistan, signalling a tougher counterterrorism stance towards militants it says are based there.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment