Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reaffirmed today that her country sends oil to Cuba as part of contracts and humanitarian aid, stating that no more is being sent than what has been historically supplied.

"No more oil is being sent than what had been sent historically. There is no particular shipment. For many years, oil has been sent to Cuba for different reasons. Some are contracts, others are humanitarian aid," the dignitary stated.

Responding to a question about media reports alleging an increase in these shipments, the head of the executive branch recalled that even during the era of former President Enrique Peña Nieto (2012-2018), a debt owed to the island was forgiven.

"Therefore, it is a historical shipment that has been given to the island and the Cuban people and now is part of both a contract and humanitarian aid," the president clarified, adding that, "with the current situation in Venezuela, well, evidently Mexico becomes an important supplier."

Sheinbaum highlighted last December 22nd the historical bond between her country and the largest of the Antilles.

"The Mexico-Cuba relationship is historical. Mexico was the only country that opposed the (U.S.-imposed) blockade from the very beginning. So, regardless of the political party, there has been a Mexico-Cuba relationship," she emphasized.

In this way, the head of the executive responded to a question about oil shipments to that nation, besieged for over 60 years by an economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by Washington, which experts consider the main obstacle to the island's development.

Mentioning energy cooperation and the visits of Cuban leaders to Mexico and vice versa over decades, regardless of the political affiliation of the presidents in this North American nation, Sheinbaum stressed that ties with the Caribbean country are not something new.

"It is not a new situation and everything is done within the framework of the law and also for humanitarian reasons for the people of Cuba," she noted, reiterating Mexico's sovereignty and mentioning the continuity of a series of supports her nation has historically provided to the largest of the Antilles.