Havana, Dec 25 (Prensa Latina) The Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Korea donated 24,600 tons of rice to Cuba, delivered through the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations System in Cuba reported.
The rest of the shipment will arrive through Havana, with the purpose of doubling deliveries to the prioritized population of the other provinces, in a bimonthly distribution modality that will extend for a year.
“This international collaboration strengthens food security and ensures national coverage for the most vulnerable sectors,” the WFP noted.
The agency also stated that the assistance will allow for an expanded emergency response and support for the recovery of communities affected by recent weather events, such as Hurricane Melissa.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum highlighted today the historical relationship between her country and Cuba and emphasized that agreements with the island in the energy sector are conducted within a legal framework.
“The Mexico-Cuba relationship is historical. Mexico was the only country that opposed the blockade (imposed by the United States) from the very beginning. Therefore, regardless of the political party, there has always been a Mexico-Cuba relationship,” she emphasized.
Sheinbaum was responding to a question regarding oil shipments to the island nation, which has been under an economic, commercial, and financial siege imposed by Washington for over 60 years—a policy experts consider the main obstacle to Cuba’s development.
Mentioning energy cooperation and the decades of visits by Cuban leaders to Mexico and vice versa, regardless of the political affiliation of the North American nation’s leaders, the head of the executive branch stressed that ties with the Caribbean country are not 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 stated, reiterating Mexico’s sovereignty and noting that this continues a series of supports historically provided by her nation to the island.
Last Thursday, Sheinbaum affirmed that Mexico’s position regarding Cuba will remain, *”as it has been maintained since (former President Adolfo) López Mateos (1958-1964).”
The dignitary pointed out that this has been a permanent topic in Mexico-U.S. relations since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959 and noted that the link with the island “has always been a point of difference” between the administrations of the two neighboring countries.
“Therefore, it should not influence Mexico-U.S. relations. And our position is sovereign, it is a sovereign decision, and it has much to do with the humanitarianism we represent. People should not have to suffer,” she said in relation to the blockade.
According to the most recent data, the U.S. siege against the Caribbean nation caused estimated damages of $7,556.1 million between March 2024 and last February, a 49 percent increase compared to the previous period.
In the health sector alone, this policy resulted in losses of nearly $300 million in one year, while the impact in the energy sector exceeded $496 million due to restrictions on importing fuel and spare parts.
On October 29 of this year, Cuba achieved another victory at the United Nations General Assembly, obtaining 165 votes in favor of the resolution calling for an end to this blockade.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum speaks during a press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City, Mexico, March 4, 2025. (PHOTO / XINHUA)
December 22, 2025 — By Xinhua
MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday said that shipping Mexican oil to Cuba was carried out in accordance with the principles of sovereignty and humanitarianism.
The energy and financial collaboration between the two countries is transparent and legitimate, and deeply rooted in their bilateral history, she stressed during a morning press conference.
The Mexican president made the remarks despite repeated criticism from the US government, which has asked Mexico to reconsider its relationship with Cuba.
“First, we are doing this within a legal framework as a sovereign country, and second, we are continuing a series of support measures that our country has historically provided Cuba,” she said.
Sheinbaum added that she asked state-owned oil company Petroleos Mexicanos to submit a report on oil shipments to the Caribbean nation during her administration, noting the measure is lawful and conforms to the “humanitarian” principles that guide her government’s policies.
The oil agreements between Mexico and Cuba date back decades and have endured despite changes in the Mexican government, she said.
A file photo of buildings in the skyline of Caracas, Venezuela. /VCG
21-Dec-2025
CGTN— 21-Dec-2025
Several Latin American countries and regional organizations have denounced the U.S. actions against Venezuela, calling for dialogue and urging the United Nations and the international community to act.
Earlier this week, the Trump administration blocked oil tankers sailing to or from Venezuela and designated the government of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as “a foreign terrorist organization.”
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla said Saturday that the U.S. government’s designation of the legitimate government of Venezuela as a “foreign terrorist organization” is a politically motivated act.
“It is a new, arbitrary, fraudulent, unilateral, and politically motivated act. It shows, once again, the lack of credibility of these decisions and the manipulation of terrorism as a political weapon, which also weakens international efforts against that scourge,” Rodriguez said on X.
Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump announced the designation of Venezuela as a “foreign terrorist organization.”
Rodriguez said the United States intends to impose international isolation, increase pressure, and escalate an aggression that would have unpredictable consequences for peace, security and stability in Latin America and the Caribbean.
He also emphasized Cuba’s full solidarity and support for the people and government of Venezuela in the face of “this infamous barbarism.”
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also said Saturday that an armed intervention in Venezuela would be “a humanitarian catastrophe” for the region and set a dangerous precedent for the world.
Speaking at the 67th Summit of Heads of State of Mercosur and Associated States, Lula referred to U.S. threats and actions against Venezuela, including a naval blockade and military pressure on the Caribbean nation.
Latin America is shocked by “the military presence of an extra-regional power,” Lula said, stressing that “building a prosperous and peaceful South America is the only doctrine that suits us.”
“The limits of international law are being tested. An armed intervention in Venezuela would be a humanitarian catastrophe for the hemisphere and a dangerous precedent for the world,” he said.
Lula said he told Trump in a recent phone call that negotiation is a more effective and less costly path than military confrontation.
The data contains information on exports from the United States to the Republic of Cuba- products within the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act (TSREEA) of 2000, Cuban Democracy Act (CDA) of 1992, and regulations implemented (1992 to present) for other products by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Department of the Treasury, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the United States Department of Commerce, and United States Department of State.
The TSREEA re-authorized the direct commercial (on a cash basis) export of food products (including branded food products) and agricultural commodities from the United States to the Republic of Cuba, irrespective of purpose. The TSREEA does not include healthcare products, which remain authorized and regulated by the CDA.
The data represents the U.S. Dollar value of product exported from the United States to the Republic of Cuba under the TSREEA, CDA, and other regulations, specifically including products exported from the United States to the re-emerging private sector in the Republic of Cuba.
The data does not include transportation charges, bank charges, or other costs associated with exports; the government of the Republic of Cuba reports unverifiable data that includes transportation charges, bank charges, and other costs.
The Department of Homeland Security announced last week the end of the Family Reunification Parole (FRP) program for nationals from Cuba, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and Honduras.
People from those countries who are currently in the U.S. under Family Reunification Parole and had not applied for residency or a change of status by December 15 will have their legal status and work permits revoked.
“The desire to reunite families does not overcome the government’s responsibility to prevent fraud and abuse and to uphold national security and public safety,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a statement.
Family Reunification Parole joins the list of programs under which Cubans could legally enter the U.S. that have been dismantled by the Trump administration. These include Biden’s CBP One and Humanitarian Parole programs, whose termination put many of the over half million Cubans who entered the U.S. through them at risk of deportation.
A partial travel ban on Cubans has been in place since June. Trump earlier this month also suspended pending citizenship, green card and asylum applications for immigrants from countries “of concern,” including Cuba. More than a thousand Cubans have been deported to the island this year.
The renowned actor last week received the Honorary Coral at the 46th Havana International Film Festival. Bernal, who has starred in films like Amores Perros, Y tu mamá también and Babel, has several links to Cuba. He studied on the island at the San Antonio de los Baños International Film and TV School, played Che Guevara twice (in the 2002 TV mini series Fidel and the 2004 film The Motorcycle Diaries) and was an actor in Wasp Network, which was partially filmed in Cuba. “I’m moved by this award,” the actor said. “I want to thank Cuba, which has given me so much.”
Cuba solidarity organizations have sent a million dollars’ worth of medical aid and hurricane relief to Cuba from California. The initiative includes the L.A. Hands Off Cuba Committee, the Pan American Medical Association, Global Health Partners and Not Just Tourists. “The immoral policies of the United States toward Cuba only strengthen, which makes this humanitarian effort, unfortunately, all the more important,” said Mike Vera, one of the activists behind the initiative in a video posted on social media.
“The most efficient partner of the United States in security terms in Latin America is Cuba.”
—Hal Klepak, military historian, former NATO analyst and former advisor to Canada’s foreign and defense ministers
December 19, 2025 — Belly of the Beast
Every year, the State Department delivers its International Narcotics Control Strategy Report to Congress. The document is a country-by-country breakdown of “all aspects of the international drug trade.”
The 2024 report states that Cuba is “not a major consumer, producer, or transshipment point for illicit drugs” and notes that its “robust and aggressive security presence reduces domestic demand and severely limits the ability of transnational criminal organizations to establish a foothold.” Drug traffickers, it says, “typically bypass Cuba in favor of neighboring countries.”
The report adds that the Cuban Border Guard has a “long-standing relationship with the U.S. Coast Guard and frequently reports known or suspected drug trafficking.”
This year, under the supervision of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose brother-in-law was convicted of smuggling cocaine into the U.S. in the 1980s, the State Department excised Cuba from the entire International Narcotics Control Strategy Report.
No explanation was provided and the State Department did not respond toBelly of the Beast’s requests for comment.
Could it be that the section on Cuba was cut because the State Department’s own analysis undermines the administration’s narrative?
We reported on the island’s counternarcotics efforts in eastern Cuba two years ago. Liz Oliva Fernández interviewed members of the Cuban Border Guard as well as a U.S. embassy official and a U.S. Coast Guard official who were meeting with their counterparts. Watch Liz’s video.
“The Coast Guard has always maintained very close relations with the Cuban government, and especially with the Interior Ministry and the Cuban Border Guard,” said U.S. Coast Guard Lieutenant Commander Alejandro Collazo. “I would dare say we speak to each other more than once a week.”
Despite Cuba’s erasure from the State Department’s 2025 counternarcotics report, Cuba says it continues to collaborate with the United States.
“We’re providing the U.S. with information in real time,” Colonel Ybey Carballo, chief of Cuba’s Border Guard, said at a recent press conference. “We tell them the characteristics of the boats, how many engines they have, the number of crew members.”
But the U.S. government’s willingness to reciprocate Cuba’s counternarcotics efforts may not be the same as it was a year ago.
Colonel Juan Carlos Poey, head of the Interior Ministry’s anti-drug unit, said that despite a 2016 counternarcotics agreement between the two countries, the U.S. is cooperating with Cuba “sporadically.”
Poey said the main source of drugs entering Cuba is the United States.
Nonetheless, Cuban counternarcotics officials continue to cooperate with their U.S. counterparts.
Last week, Cuban authorities announced they had detained 24 people involved in a network that trafficked drugs from the U.S. into Havana. The operation seized “more than a million doses” of the synthetic cannabinoid known as el quimico (the chemical). According to the Ministry of Interior, Cuba has submitted evidence of U.S. residents’ involvement in the operation to the Trump administration.
