US President asserts pressure on Mexico to cut off energy lifeline to Cuba, deepening the island’s already catastrophic energy crisis.

US President Donald Trump has declared that Mexico will cease its oil shipments to Cuba, a statement that threatens to plunge the island nation into an even deeper abyss of darkness and economic paralysis. Trump’s assertion comes amidst a backdrop of escalating tensions, with Washington seemingly determined to choke off Havana’s remaining energy lifelines.

This development marks a significant escalation in Washington’s pressure campaign against Havana. By targeting Cuba’s energy supply, the Trump administration is striking at the very heart of the island’s stability, potentially triggering a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale in a country already grappling with chronic shortages of food and medicine.

Sovereignty vs. Pressure

While Trump claimed victory in halting the shipments, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum struck a defiant yet ambiguous tone. She insisted that any decision to suspend oil exports was a "sovereign" one, not a capitulation to US pressure. However, reports indicate that Mexico has indeed paused shipments, a move that aligns with Washington's demands even if Mexico City refuses to admit it publicly.

The situation in Cuba is dire. The island has been suffering from severe blackouts, some lasting up to 20 hours a day, following the collapse of its grid and the reduction of supply from its traditional ally, Venezuela. Mexico had stepped in as a crucial supplier, but with that tap now potentially closed, the Communist-run island faces an existential threat. Sheinbaum has promised "humanitarian aid" but has sidestepped questions about the resumption of regular oil deliveries.

• The Venezuela Factor: The US intervention in Venezuela and the subsequent fall of Nicolás Maduro has deprived Cuba of its primary benefactor, leaving it vulnerable to American sanctions.
• Humanitarian Fallout: Without fuel, Cuba's ability to power hospitals, transport food, and pump water is severely compromised, raising the specter of social unrest.

A Geopolitical Stranglehold

Trump's strategy is clear: maximum pressure. By threatening tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba, he is effectively enforcing a naval blockade through economic means. For Mexico, caught between its historic solidarity with Cuba and its economic dependence on the US, the room for maneuver is shrinking rapidly.

With the energy grid teetering on the brink of collapse, the people of Cuba face a future of uncertainty. The geopolitical chess game between Washington and Havana has once again left ordinary citizens as the primary casualties of a war they did not choose.