Republican Rep. Slams Mexican President Sheinbaum Over Intention To Keep Sending Oil To Cuba On Humanitarian Grounds

Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez slammed Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum over her administration's intention to continue sending oil to Cuba on humanitarian grounds.

In a social media publication, Rep. Carlos Gimenez posted a video in which Sheinbaum said even though a shipment from state-run oil company Pemex was halted, others will continue.

"Humanitarian aid to Cuba, like to other countries, continues. Mexico has always shown solidarity with the entire world. They are sovereign decisions. The issue regarding the contract has to do with Pemex," she said.

🚨Desde el Congreso de Estados Unidos,denunciamos categóricamente la patética decisión de la Presidente Sheinbaum de seguir enviándole petróleo al régimen en #Cuba.Parece que valora más su relación con el dictador Díaz-Canel que su relación comercial con USA.Esta gran… pic.twitter.com/CAsextrehL

— Rep. Carlos A. Gimenez (@RepCarlos) January 28, 2026

Gimenez reacted in the publication, saying that "from the U.S. Congress we categorically denounce President Sheinbaum's pathetic decision to keep sending oil to the Cuban regime."

"It seems like she values more her relationship with dictator Diaz-Canel than her commercial relationship with the U.S. This big betrayal won't be tolerated. Let her be very aware of it upon the negotiation of the free trade agreement," he added, in reference to the renegotiation of the USMCA.

Lawmakers involved in regional politics had celebrated a recent report noting that Pemex halted a shipment earlier this month. However, they have gone back to criticizing the country as talk of regime change in Cuba increases following the capture of Venezuela's authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro.

In fact, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that the Trump administration would "like to see" regime change in Cuba, noting however that such a notion "doesn't mean we're going to make a change."

The remark took place during a hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, when Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz asked Rubio to rule out U.S.-backed regime change in the country. Rubio declined, saying "we would love to see it change."

Cuba is already experiencing economic collapse. According to a recent poll, over three in four Cubans intend to flee the country. The survey was conducted by the Social Rights Observatory during the summer and reported by the Wall Street Journal as part of a broader piece about the country's crumbling economy.

The same poll showed that seven in ten respondents go at least without a meal a day and nearly 90% live in extreme poverty. Moreover, for over 70% of Cubans their main concerns are the lack of food and constant blackouts.

Some 2.7 million people have already left Cuba since 2020, a quarter of the population. Hundreds of thousands have gone to the U.S., Havana-based demographer Juan Carlos Albizu-Campos told the outlet back then.

• Trump Claims 'Cuba Will Be Failing Pretty Soon' As Economic Crisis Deepens Further
• Mexican President Sheinbaum Says Halting Of Oil Shipments To Cuba Is 'Sovereign' Decision And Not Driven by U.S. Pressure

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