Claudia Sheinbaum, the President of Mexico, disclosed during her morning press briefing on Wednesday that in one of her conversations with President Donald Trump, she defended the Cuban regime. She argued that the island nation has made progress in economic reforms, as revealed in a video shared by the Mexican Presidency's channel.
"Cuba has recently, in response to the tightening policies against it, opened its economy in many sectors," Sheinbaum stated to the press.
Sheinbaum emphasized that she conveyed this message directly to Trump: "Cuba has also made efforts to open its economy. It would be worthwhile to consider this."
The Mexican leader confirmed that she has had about 20 phone conversations with the U.S. president, and the Cuban issue was discussed in at least one of those calls.
She acknowledged that not all topics see eye to eye: "There are issues where we agree, and there are issues, despite the respectful nature of the calls, where we disagree, and that's normal."
Additionally, Sheinbaum reiterated Mexico's historical stance against the embargo: "We do not agree with the blockades. They harm the people. They don't harm governments, they harm the people." She added that Mexico will always pursue "ensuring the Cuban people are not punished and seeking dialogue over violent outcomes."
Her comments come amid Washington's maximum pressure campaign against Havana.
Since January, the Trump administration has imposed over 240 sanctions on the regime, including Executive Order 14404 on May 1, which expanded secondary sanctions against third parties dealing with blocked Cuban entities.
On June 4, Washington imposed personal sanctions on Miguel Díaz-Canel, his wife Lis Cuesta, and Alejandro Castro Espín, and on June 11, added CUPET, the Cuban state oil company, to its blacklist. These measures have slashed Cuba’s energy imports by 80% to 90%, worsening blackouts and deepening the economic crisis.
The "reforms" Sheinbaum cited to Trump were announced by Díaz-Canel on June 12, including municipal and business autonomy, opening to diaspora investment, and fast-tracking small and medium enterprises.
However, Cuban economists have criticized these measures as "belated pragmatism" and inadequate in addressing the island's worst economic crisis since the Special Period. They are still pending formal approval by the Political Bureau and the National Assembly, scheduled for July.
This is not Sheinbaum's first support for the Cuban regime against Washington. In January, she offered to mediate between Cuba and the U.S. and defended Pemex's oil shipments to the island as humanitarian aid. On June 9, she confirmed that Mexico would continue to provide assistance to Cuba despite Trump's sanctions.
"That will always be our position, our opinion, and solidarity with the Cuban people, which is historically rooted in Mexico," Sheinbaum concluded on Wednesday, firmly aligning her government with a regime that has been in power for 67 years and which its own economists acknowledge as responsible for the economic devastation it now belatedly seeks to deregulate.
Key Aspects of Mexico's Stance on Cuba
What efforts has Cuba made to open its economy?
Cuba announced reforms including municipal and business autonomy, opening to diaspora investment, and fast-tracking small and medium enterprises.
How has the Trump administration's policy impacted Cuba?
Over 240 sanctions have been imposed, reducing Cuba's energy imports significantly and exacerbating the economic crisis and blackouts.
What is Mexico's position on the U.S. embargo on Cuba?
Mexico opposes the embargo, arguing it harms the Cuban people rather than the government, and advocates for dialogue over conflict.
Has Sheinbaum previously supported the Cuban regime?
Yes, she has offered to mediate between Cuba and the U.S. and supported oil shipments from Pemex to Cuba as humanitarian aid.