Mexican president says her country has paused oil shipments to Cuba

MEXICO CITY -- Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Tuesday her government has at least temporarily stopped oil shipments to Cuba, but struck an ambiguous tone, saying the pause was part of general fluctuations in oil supplies and that it was a “sovereign decision” not made under pressure from the United States.Sheinbaum was responding to inquiries on whether the state oil company Pemex had cut off oil shipments to Cuba in the wake of mounting pressure from U.S.President Donald Trump that Mexico distance itself from the Cuban government, though U.S.

officials have not publicly requested that Mexico stop the oil.“Pemex makes decisions in the contractual relationship it has with Cuba,” Sheinbaum said in her morning news briefing.“Suspending is a sovereign decision and is taken when necessary.”Sheinbaum’s vague statements come as Trump has sought to isolate Cuba and further ramp up the pressure on the island, a longtime adversary under strict economic sanctions from Washington.

Trump has said the Cuban government is ready to fall, and that the island would receive no more oil shipments from Venezuela after a U.S.military operation deposed former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.In its deepening energy and economic crisis, Cuba has relied heavily on foreign assistance and oil shipments from allies like Mexico, Russia, and — previously — Venezuela.Mexico has sought to balance its long-term support of Cuba’s government with pressure from Trump for Latin American leaders to fall in line with his vision for the region.Sheinbaum said Tuesday that Mexico would continue to show solidarity with Havana, but didn’t clarify what kind of support Mexico would offer.Mexico has faced its own pressure from Washington, as Trump has threatened to take military action against Mexican drug cartels.

Mexico last week transferred dozens of suspected cartel members to the United States to face justice.They were sought by the Trump administration, but Sheinbaum...