Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that her government is analyzing the possibility of resuming oil shipments to Cuba, but under a new scheme that would not directly involve the state-owned Pemex, but rather private companies interested in operating in the hydrocarbon trade.
"We are working on it," the president said during her daily press conference, clarifying that it is not an immediate reactivation or a humanitarian shipment, but a strictly commercial operation. "The mechanism would be through private companies that have permission to bring fuel to Cuba," she explained.
▶️ Mexico is working on resuming fuel shipments to Cuba; mechanism would be through private companies 📺 #LaMañaneraDelPueblo by @mileniotv pic.twitter.com/o3OsfokfCO — Milenio (@Milenio) June 22, 2026
The initiative comes after the approval of a package of reforms in Cuba that allows the participation of the private sector, both domestic and foreign, in the import and marketing of fuels, opening the possibility of new commercial ties with Mexican companies.
The eventual resumption of shipments occurs in a complex context: Mexico had previously suspended its oil exports to the island after pressure from the United States government, which warned of possible sanctions against countries that supply hydrocarbons to Cuba.
The energy link between Mexico and Cuba had begun to intensify after the fall of its main supplier, Venezuela, but the flow was quickly interrupted amid diplomatic and commercial pressure from Washington.
The United States has maintained an economic embargo on Cuba since the 1960s and has said the measures seek to address national security concerns. Cuba, for its part, rejects those accusations and denounces the impact of the blockade on its economy.
In this scenario, former US President Donald Trump allegedly directly warned Sheinbaum about the continuation of shipments, leading to the suspension of the previous scheme to avoid trade retaliation at a key moment for the renegotiation of the USMCA.
Since then, Mexico has maintained limited humanitarian assistance to the island, with shipments of food and basic supplies, while the Cuban government tries to alleviate a deep energy crisis that affects public services, food distribution, and economic activity.
Although the opening to private companies could reactivate the commercial link, it is not yet clear which Mexican companies would be willing to participate in such operations, nor what the final response from the United States would be to a potential agreement.
