MEXICO CITY.— This Wednesday, during its usual morning press conference, the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardorevealed that he analyzes support Cuba with the fuel supplydue to the wave of blackouts who has been suffering since last Friday from a crisis in his National Electric System (SEN).
“We are seeing, Cuba was helped at one point and we are seeing if it is necessary also the fuel help“, as humanitarian aid, and it is aid to the Cuban people,” the governor responded to a specific question in her conference.
In #LaMañaneraDelPueblo | President Claudia Sheinbaum reported that she will continue supporting Cuba with “humanitarian aid” and is analyzing whether she could send fuel aid pic.twitter.com/pPSPHrfUvD
— Azucena Uresti (@azucenau) October 23, 2024
Electrical crisis in Cuba
The electrical crisis in Cuba has recalled that Mexico sent in 2023 at least some 200 million dollars of oilaccording to calculations of the University of Texas Energy Institute.
but then Mexican Petroleum (Pemex) denied that it was a donation, and Claudia Sheinbaum now affirmed that the current assistance to Cuba has only been “technical support” of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE).
“We are always going to support, so CFE is in contact through the Foreign Ministry with what the Cuban people require, to be able to support them, it is essentially technical help,” said Claudia Sheinbaum.
More than a third of Cuba will be without electricity today
More than a third of the island will be left without electricity this Wednesday, according to the state’s forecast Electrical Union (UNE) of Cuba, where the energy crisis has worsened since August and before the total blackout on Friday, supply cuts were already at historic highs, with rates of maximum impact between 41 and 51%.
The blackouts are mainly due to the lack of fuelthe result of the lack of foreign currency to import it, and the frequent breakdowns in the obsolete thermoelectric plants of the country, with more than four decades of exploitation and a chronic investment deficit.
Claudia Sheinbaum reiterated that “humanitarian aid is always given” and that “Mexico has always been against the blockade, except for some presidents of the neoliberal period who decided that they had another position.”
“We are against the blockade of Cuba, it is the sovereignty of the people, that is what our foreign policy says, it is the Cuban people who must decide how to organize themselves and their form of government, there does not have to be intervention and, furthermore “The blockade affects the people,” he asserted.
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**Interview with Dr. Laura Ramirez, Expert in Latin American Relations**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Dr. Ramirez. President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico recently announced plans to provide fuel assistance to Cuba amid a significant electrical crisis affecting the island. What prompted Mexico to take this step at this time?
**Dr. Ramirez:** Thank you for having me. The decision by President Sheinbaum reflects a humanitarian response to an ongoing crisis in Cuba, where blackouts have become increasingly severe. This humanitarian rationale is also rooted in historical ties and a sense of regional solidarity. Mexico has previously extended support to Cuba during times of need, and this recent move indicates a continuation of that pattern, coupled with a desire to alleviate hardship for the Cuban people.
**Interviewer:** The president mentioned that this fuel aid would be for humanitarian reasons. How significant is this assistance considering the scale of Cuba’s current energy crisis?
**Dr. Ramirez:** Given that over a third of Cuba has faced power outages, the impact of fuel assistance could be substantial. Fuel directly correlates with the ability to generate electricity. While Sheinbaum emphasized this as part of a broader humanitarian aid effort, we should also note that assistance can carry strategic implications in broader geopolitics. Strengthening ties with Cuba might be a way for Mexico to assert its role as a leader in Latin America, especially in context of its relationships with other nations facing economic and energy difficulties.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned historical ties. Can you elaborate on Mexico’s past support for Cuba and the nature of that relationship?
**Dr. Ramirez:** Certainly. Mexico has a longstanding relationship with Cuba, which includes historical support during times of political and economic strife. For instance, last year, there were reports of significant oil shipments from Mexico to Cuba—though they were later categorized by Pemex as non-donation shipments. The larger narrative is one of solidarity, fueled by shared historical experiences and challenges. The Federal Electricity Commission’s involvement in providing technical support mirrors past engagements where Mexico has offered expertise to assist its neighbor.
**Interviewer:** What implications could this fuel assistance have for regional relations in Latin America, particularly regarding Mexico’s standing?
**Dr. Ramirez:** Mexico’s actions could strengthen its position as a mediator and a leader in Latin America, presenting itself as a country willing to assist its neighbors in crisis. This could lead to closer ties with other left-leaning governments in the region that share similar ideologies with Cuba. However, it may also complicate relations with more conservative countries or those with antagonistic views towards Cuba. The region is definitely watching how this unfolds, especially in the context of U.S. foreign policy towards both Mexico and Cuba.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Dr. Ramirez, for your insights on this important issue.
**Dr. Ramirez:** My pleasure! Thank you for having me.
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