The government of President Claudia Sheinbaum has fulfilled its promise to send humanitarian aid to Cuba, following the announcement by the Aztec foreign ministry of the departure of two Navy ships with over 800 tons of humanitarian aid consisting of food such as milk—liquid and powdered—, meat products, beans, rice, sardines, and cooking oil, while another 1500 tons of powdered milk and beans remained in port, ready to be shipped. The Morenista leader has said that, while a diplomatic solution to the US tariff threat related to crude shipments to Cuba is sought, Mexico would supply other demands from Havana regarding basic necessities.
"With these actions, the Government of Mexico reaffirms the humanist principles and the spirit of solidarity that guide it, as well as its commitment to international cooperation among peoples, especially with those who, in situations of emergency and vulnerability, require humanitarian aid," states the communiqué from the Mexican Foreign Affairs Secretariat. "Cuba and Mexico are sister [nations], heirs to a long history of solidarity that we honor today," adds the official note.
Undoubtedly, it is a more resolute position than that adopted by other actors in the region—like Brazil—who could show solidarity in a more concrete manner with Cuba at an extremely complex moment in which a multifactorial, accumulated polycrisis, and the extraordinary reinforcement of Washington's economic warfare, converge, the latter being a factor in the underlying crisis. I make the reference to Brazil based on this wire report detailing statements made by President Lula da Silva during a recent event of his core political force. "We, as a party, must find a way to help. What can we do?," the head of the Palácio do Planalto asked.
In truth, as a party, very little besides loose words calling for solidarity and demanding respect for Cuban sovereignty. The correct question is what he can do as a government head, either by ordering more proactive diplomacy from Itamaraty or by providing material support as the Mexican government has done. As part of the adjustment plan the country faces, authorities have notified airlines operating in national airspace that starting tomorrow, Monday, they will not have fuel available here, which should imply a rerouting of flights with extra stops in Mexico or the Dominican Republic to refuel, according to EFE.
On the other hand, thousands of young students from my university and other higher education institutions are traveling back to their provinces from Havana due to the deficit of fuel necessary to sustain academic and related activities—primarily of a logistical nature—, in another sign of the direct impact of the Republican administration's aggressive policy. In general, all higher education has shifted to distance learning mode, while, in general, all socioeconomic sectors have had to readjust their activity levels.
However, in a dynamic that cannot be explained solely by reduced demand due to low temperatures by these days, power outages have not been as severe as when Venezuelan, and, to a lesser extent, Mexican crude was still arriving. In part, the reduction in economic activity levels might be related, but it even seems that the country had some extra carefully accumulated crude reserves that allow it to keep the specter of total collapse at bay, not discounting that it can organically meet one-third of its demand. We will see how Trump will react as the days pass and his promise that the Cuban political regime is collapsing "in its own volition" is delayed, despite the fact that, short of direct military action, they are forcing the game more than ever.
