Mexico City, Jan 30, (dpa/GNA) – Mexico, on Friday warned of a large-scale humanitarian crisis in Cuba, following the US tariff threat against the socialist Caribbean island’s oil suppliers.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, said the operation of hospitals, food supplies and other basic services were at risk. The Cuban population was already in a difficult situation, she said.
US President Donald Trump has threatened countries that send oil to Cuba with additional tariffs. Mexico is one of the largest oil suppliers to the state, ruled by the Communist Party. At the same time, Mexico is the most important trading partner of the United States.
Before the US military operation in Venezuela, a key ally of Cuba, Mexico’s oil shipments to the island had increased.
Speaking in Tijuana, which is next to the California border with Mexico, Sheinbaum said the Mexican government would contact US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to learn the exact details of Trump’s order.
“We do not want to put our country at risk in terms of tariffs,” she said.
At the same time, she said Mexico wants to be sure that there won’t be a humanitarian crisis in Cuba.
Cuba blames the United States for its economic crisis. According to media reports, Mexico has already reduced oil deliveries to Cuba under US pressure, although there is no official confirmation.
Cuba repeatedly suffers blackouts due to the dilapidated state of its power grid and oil shortages. Power often goes out for 12 hours or more a day.
The Caribbean island is currently in one of its worst economic crises, since the victory of the revolution under Fidel Castro in 1959.
GNA