US President Donald Trump claims Mexico will cease oil exports to Cuba, deepening the island’s economic crisis amid existing US sanctions.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said Mexico would stop sending oil to Cuba. He made the statement to reporters in the Oval Office on Monday.
The move would significantly deepen Cuba’s most serious economic crisis since 1991. The island has already lost its traditional cheap oil supplies from Venezuela following the fall of Nicolas Maduro.
Trump called Cuba “a failed nation”. There was no immediate response from the Mexican government to his comments.
The US has approved punitive tariffs against countries supplying oil to Cuba. This forces partners to choose between trade with the US or with the impoverished island.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has previously warned of a humanitarian crisis in Cuba. She expressed “everlasting solidarity” with the Cuban people.
Sheinbaum also stated she did not want to put Mexico’s economy at risk from US tariffs. She added that oil shipments were not discussed in a recent call with Trump.
Trump reiterated that his administration was in talks with Cuba’s leaders. “I think we are pretty close, but we are dealing with the Cuban leaders right now,” he said.
A senior Cuban diplomat confirmed communications but denied formal talks. Vice foreign minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio said there is no “dialogue table” with the United States.
