Mexico Addresses Allegations of Secret Oil Shipments to Cuba

Recently, the Mexican government has addressed allegations circulating on social media about supposed clandestine oil shipments to Cuba.

Interestingly, the denial did not come directly from President Claudia Sheinbaum or any ministerial authority, despite the significant media attention the rumor has garnered.

Instead, it was the Mexican Embassy in the United States that firmly denied these claims, which have been circulating on social media and various press outlets. The embassy labeled the reports as "false" and part of "narratives designed to misinform."

"The information in this publication is false. It is part of narratives designed to misinform," the embassy stated, attaching an image of a note from UHN Plus, which referred to an alleged clandestine shipment of Mexican oil to the island.

In a subsequent public statement, reported by the Mexican press, the embassy, led by Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma, further rejected the rumors. It denied any secret or unconventional methods were used to ship oil.

The statement also reiterated the principle of legality that guides Mexico's foreign policy. "Humanitarian cooperation should not be confused with non-existent or illegal actions in the energy sector," the diplomatic institution emphasized, urging citizens to avoid spreading false information and to critically consume content on social media.

Background of the Allegation Reports circulated online claimed that oil had been secretly transported in cargo containers using an alternative storage system to disguise its true nature. This version suggested the fuel was sent under the guise of "humanitarian aid," without formally declaring its status as a hydrocarbon.

The embassy's denial comes shortly after a public and officially declared shipment of over 800 tons of humanitarian aid to Cuba aboard two ships. This shipment included food, medicine, and essential supplies, widely covered by Cuban state media.

Following the arrival of this aid, Cuban organizations in Mexico launched a donation drive at the Zócalo in Mexico City, showing support amid the severe economic crisis affecting the island.