Mexico warns Washington: Oil tariffs against Cuba threaten humanitarian disaster

In a new escalation of geopolitical tensions in Latin America, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum a stark warning on Friday, expressing deep concern over the potentially catastrophic consequences of recent U.S. decisions targeting oil-supplying nations to Cuba. Sheinbaum asserted that these measures could push the blockaded island to the brink of collapse, threatening a complete breakdown of essential services.

Details of the new American threat

The Mexican president's remarks came as a direct response to the executive order signed by US President Donald Trump on Thursday, which threatens additional punitive tariffs on any foreign country that sells or supplies Cuba oil, whether directly or indirectly. This decision aims to tighten the economic noose around the Cuban government by targeting the country's main energy lifeline.

Sheinbaum clearly warned that the Trump administration’s implementation of its threat “could trigger a large-scale humanitarian crisis,” noting that the impact would not be limited to the political sphere, but would directly hit hospitals, food supplies, and other essential services on which the Cuban people depend for their daily lives.

Historical context and a severe energy crisis

This event cannot be understood in isolation from the historical context of strained relations between Washington and Havana. Cuba has been subject to a comprehensive US economic and trade embargo for over six decades, leaving its energy sector extremely vulnerable. The island relies almost entirely on oil imports to power its aging power plants.

In recent months, Cuba has experienced the worst energy crisis in its modern history, with fuel shortages causing frequent power outages lasting for days in some areas, shutting down schools and factories and causing food spoilage. The new US decision will only exacerbate this suffering, as Cuba relies on allies such as Venezuela, Mexico, and Russia for essential oil supplies.

Expected regional and international repercussions

Observers of international affairs believe that this decision could have repercussions that extend beyond the borders of Cuba:

• On the humanitarian and migration front: A complete economic collapse in Cuba could lead to unprecedented waves of mass migration towards the United States and Mexico, further complicating the border crisis that Washington is trying to control.
• On the diplomatic front: This decision puts Mexico in a difficult position, as Sheinbaum seeks to maintain strong trade relations with the United States (its largest trading partner), while at the same time preserving Mexican sovereignty and historical ties of solidarity with Cuba.
• Geopolitical impact: This American pressure may push Cuba to throw itself further into the arms of international powers that are rivals to the United States, such as China and Russia, in search of an economic lifeline, thus reshaping alliances in the United States' backyard.