Claudia Sheinbaum Says Mexico Will Continue Supplying Oil To Cuba 'To Avoid a Crisis Of Blackouts'

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her government will continue providing oil to Cuba to "avoid a crisis of blackouts" as the island's economic situation continues to deteriorate.

Sheinbaum said two tankers were sent to the country and justified the decision saying Mexico made the decision as "part of the framework with a sovereign nation" and an "agreement" with Cuba, as well as to avoid an even more serious energy shortage.

She went on to say that the oil has been purchased, not gifted, and more shipments will take place in the future. "Later, we will make public what the price is as well as the cost to transport and unload the oil. The motives are humanitarian for the people of Cuba," Sheinbaum added.

The situation in Cuba has become more dire since the Trump administration began a blockade of tankers off Venezuela, cutting one of the few lifelines Havana has left.

A survey from earlier this year reported by the Wall Street Journal noted that 7 in 10 Cubans are missing at least a meal a day, with 90% of the country's population is living in extreme poverty, and 70% of respondents saying their main concerns are the lack of food and constant blackouts.

Moreover, 78% said they plan to leave the country. This adds to the 2.7 million who have already left since 2020, a quarter of the population. Hundreds of thousands have gone to the U.S., Havana-based demographer Juan Carlos Albizu-Campos told the outlet.

In another passage of the piece, the WSJ said that Cubans are "going hungry, suffering from spreading disease and sleeping outdoors with no electricity to power fans through the sweltering nights.