Mexico Sends Fifth Humanitarian Ship to Cuba Amid Growing Shortages

During her morning press conference on Monday (local time), Sheinbaum reiterated Mexico's rejection of the economic, commercial and financial blockade Washington has maintained against Cuba since 1962.

"We are going to continue sending humanitarian aid. In fact, a ship carrying humanitarian aid is leaving for Cuba today. Mexico will always be fraternal and in solidarity with all nations of the world, and particularly with Cuba," said Sheinbaum.

Mexico's humanitarian aid does not include oil, given that Russia has been supplying Cuba with that resource, she said, adding that Mexico focuses on providing other essential items to alleviate the scarcity of basic goods, reports Xinhua news agency.

In recent weeks, the US government has issued two executive orders to intensify sanctions against the country, blocking access to the fuel Cuba needs and penalising several Cuban companies.

Earlier on Friday, Cuba denied remarks by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio about an alleged US offer of 100 million dollars in humanitarian aid to the island country.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said on X that Rubio had fabricated the claim to justify Washington's actions against Cuba.

Rubio told reporters on Friday that the United States had provided 6 million dollars in humanitarian aid to Cuba through Caritas, a Catholic Church agency, and had offered the Cuban government 100 million dollars, but it refused to distribute it.

"Where have they gone? What would he have used them for?" Rodriguez wrote, dismissing the claim.

Rodriguez said what is publicly known is the billions of dollars that the US economic warfare is costing Cuba.

"He is also well aware of the ruthless human damage caused by that warfare and the restrictions in terms of revenues, technologies, food, fuel and medicines it imposes," Rodriguez added.

- IANS