Sheinbaum Halts Cuba Oil Shipments Amid Trump Tariff Threat, Testing Morena Loyalty

Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum halted crude oil shipments to Cuba over the end-of-January threat of US tariffs on Cuba-bound oil, signaling a policy shift that tests loyalty within her leftist ruling Morena Party. The decision aims to avert confrontation with President Trump while maintaining ongoing non-energy aid and support for Havana. Mexico has long maintained a non-interventionist stance, strengthened by historical ties to Cuba and regional security cooperation, including the Treaty of Tlatelolco. Sheinbaum’s halt reflects balancing economic interests with domestic political considerations, as leftist factions within Morena remain strong supporters of Havana. Sheinbaum defended the move as “unfair” and warned of potential humanitarian disaster, while reaffirming Mexico’s commitment to supporting Cuba’s people and rejecting US interventionism. The administration continues to send food, medical supplies and hygiene products to Cuba, underscoring its broader policy of support despite the policy shift on oil.