Trump declares national emergency' over Cuba and targets oil suppliers with new tariffs

"U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified the pressure against Cuba, targeting the island's most vulnerable point: its oil supply. After Venezuela halted its shipments, the White House issued an executive order declaring a national emergency with respect to Cuba and announcing tariffs on any countries that provide oil to the island. This move could affect Mexico's ability to resume its own oil shipments to Havana."

"The government of Cuba has taken extraordinary actions that harm and threaten the United States. The regime aligns itself with and provides support for numerous hostile countries, transnational terrorist groups, and malign actors adverse to the United States, the executive order states. Therefore, it asserts, the situation with respect to Cuba constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States."

"Mexico has become Cuba's main supplier of crude oil following the U.S. intervention in Venezuela. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has argued that the oil shipments sent by her government are of two types: humanitarian aid and contracts signed by Pemex, the state oil company, with the Cuban regime. Until early January, ships sailed regularly from the Gulf of Mexico coast to the island. However, Pemex suspended oil tanker shipments to Havana in mid-January."

The White House declared a national emergency regarding Cuba and announced tariffs on countries supplying oil to the island. The action follows Venezuela's halt of shipments and aims to pressure Cuba by cutting access to oil. The U.S. labeled Cuba as aligned with hostile states, transnational terrorist groups, and malign actors, posing a threat to national security and foreign policy. Mexico became Cuba's main crude supplier after Venezuelan interruptions; Pemex contracts and government shipments were described as humanitarian aid or commercial sales. Pemex suspended tanker deliveries in mid-January; Mexico's president said humanitarian hydrocarbon aid will continue. The tariffs could hinder Mexico resuming shipments.

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