Mexico’s state oil company, Pemex, has backed out of a planned oil shipment to Cuba, the country's president appeared to confirm. The move comes after President Donald Trump insisted that "zero" oil would be sent to the island, and follows reports that Washington plans regime change there by the end of the year.
Speaking during her daily press conference on Tuesday, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum did not deny earlier reports about the canceled Pemex shipment, which was originally scheduled for sometime in January.
"It is a sovereign decision, and it is made at the time deemed necessary," she said when asked about the reports, stressing that such shipments are determined by the state oil firm.
Reuters reported last week that the Mexican government was reviewing whether to continue sending oil to Cuba, fearing potential reprisals from the United States.
Washington has maintained a full trade embargo on the island for decades, and imposed a blockade on Venezuelan oil bound for Cuba late last year, soon after US forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro over dubious drug charges.
While that left Mexico as Cuba’s main petroleum supplier – accounting for some 44% of its crude imports, per UPI – President Trump insisted that "zero" money or oil would be sent to the island earlier this month, forcing Mexico to reevaluate its trade policy.
Asked whether her country could play a role mediating discussions between Washington and Havana, Sheinbaum said such an initiative could only proceed if it were requested by both sides, but added that Mexico would continue to promote dialogue.
Those efforts may be insufficient, however, as Washington is now reportedly seeking to execute regime change in Cuba by the end of the year, according to recent reporting by the Wall Street Journal.
The paper said last week that US officials were seeking "Cuban government insiders who can help cut a deal to push out the Communist regime" in the coming months, hoping to use Maduro’s kidnapping as a "blueprint" to topple the Cuban state.
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