Mexico halted oil shipments to Cuba this week, eliminating 44% of the island’s crude imports. Venezuela supplied 33% before U.S. forces abducted President Nicolás Maduro on January 3. Russia provides the remaining 10%.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called the halt a “sovereign decision” not driven by U.S. pressure. Trump threatened last week to impose tariffs on nations providing oil to Cuba.
Mexico’s state oil company Pemex shipped nearly 20,000 barrels per day to Cuba through September 2025. With Venezuelan supply offline, those shipments became critical.
Trump said January 4 that Cuba “is going to be something we’ll end up talking about, because Cuba is a failing nation right now.” He added: “We want to help the people.”
Mexico is negotiating a trade agreement with the United States while facing Trump tariff threats on multiple fronts. The timing of the oil cutoff coincides with those negotiations.
Cuba now operates with 10% of its previous oil supply from its three major sources. Venezuela’s cutoff followed a military raid. Mexico’s cutoff followed tariff threats during trade talks. The pattern leaves the island dependent on Russia alone.
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