Mexican ships arrive in Cuba with humanitarian cargo amid US oil blockade

"President Sheinbaum called for dialogue and pledged to send more supplies as soon as the two ships return to Mexico. Two Mexican ships bearing humanitarian aid have docked in the harbour of Cuba's capital Havana, as the United States continues its efforts to cut the island off from outside fuel supplies. On Thursday, pedestrians on Havana's seawall watched as the ships, one of which was the Papaloapan, unloaded white pallets on shore."

"Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the delivery in her morning news conference, promising that more help was on the way. We are sending different forms of help, different forms of support, Sheinbaum said. Today, the ships arrive. When they return, we are going to send more support of a different type. She also described her country's role as opening the doors for dialogue to develop between Cuba and the US, but she insisted that maintaining Cuba's sovereignty would be paramount among her priorities."

"Since January, the administration of US President Donald Trump has sought to cut off the oil supplies that power Cuba's energy grid and other critical infrastructure. The campaign is part of a long-running series of sanctions imposed by the US on the Caribbean island nation, stretching back to the Cold War. But the latest effort, under Trump, has experts at the United Nations warning of an imminent humanitarian collapse in Cuba, as oil supplies dwindle."

Two Mexican ships carrying humanitarian aid docked in Havana as locals watched crew unload white pallets on the seawall. President Claudia Sheinbaum pledged additional supplies once the vessels return to Mexico and committed to sending different forms of support. Sheinbaum positioned Mexico as opening doors for dialogue between Cuba and the United States while emphasizing the primacy of Cuban sovereignty. Since January, the Trump administration has sought to cut off oil supplies that power Cuba's energy grid, part of long-running US sanctions. United Nations experts warned of a possible imminent humanitarian collapse as oil supplies dwindle.

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