Mexico warns: Trump's tariffs on Cuban oil threaten a humanitarian catastrophe
In a new escalation of regional tensions in Latin America, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum issued a stark warning on Friday about the serious repercussions of recent US decisions targeting countries that supply energy to Cuba. Sheinbaum emphasized that Washington's threat to impose punitive tariffs on countries providing oil shipments to the embargoed island is not merely an economic measure, but a step that could trigger an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
These statements came as a direct response to US President Donald Trump signing an executive order threatening to impose additional tariffs on any country that contributes to breaking the energy embargo imposed on Havana, which puts Mexico in a delicate position given its huge trade relations with the United States and its traditional political support for Cuba.
Humanitarian repercussions that transcend politics
The Mexican president explained that the Trump administration's implementation of its threats would have catastrophic consequences for the daily lives of Cuban citizens. She pointed out that cutting off oil supplies would shut down Cuba's already dilapidated power plants, leading to a complete shutdown of hospitals, water shortages, food spoilage, and the disruption of other essential services. These warnings come at a time when Cuba is already suffering from frequent and prolonged power outages, exacerbating the population's hardship and sparking rare street protests.
Context of the crisis and background of the ban
To understand the depth of the crisis, one must consider the historical context of the strained relations. Cuba has lived under a US economic embargo for more than six decades, but the latest measures represent a shift toward a “maximum pressure” strategy by targeting third parties (secondary sanctions). Cuba relies almost entirely on oil imports to power its electricity grid, and Venezuela was its main supplier for years. However, with Venezuelan production declining, Cuba has turned to other allies such as Mexico and Russia to fill the gap.
Geopolitical and economic dimensions
This decision has implications that extend beyond Cuba's borders; it presents Mexico, the United States' largest trading partner, with a difficult dilemma: balancing its economic interests and the need to avoid tariffs that could harm its exports with its commitment to sovereignty and its support for neighboring countries. Observers believe this decision could strain diplomatic relations between Mexico City and Washington, especially given Mexico's recent practice of sending oil shipments to help Cuba overcome its recurring energy crises.
The new US decree clearly states the possibility of imposing additional tariffs on imports of goods from foreign countries that “sell or supply Cuba with oil directly or indirectly,” further strangling the struggling Cuban economy and presenting very difficult choices for the supplying countries in the coming period.
