February 5, 2026 — Belly of the Beast
Once Trump halted all Venezuelan oil shipments to the island, he warned Cuba that it better make a deal with the U.S. “before it is too late.”
Since signing the executive order, he said over the weekend, “We’re starting to talk to Cuba.”
Cuba’s Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio told Reuters Monday that Cuba is “ready to have a serious, meaningful and responsible dialogue.”
“We have had exchange of messages, we have embassies, we have had communications, but we cannot say we have had a table of dialogue,” added de Cossio.
Trump has also said that Mexico, one of Cuba’s last oil lifelines, won’t be sending fuel to the island anymore.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum on Sunday said, “humanitarian aid to Cuba” will continue “in the form of food and other products while we diplomatically resolve everything related to the shipment of oil for humanitarian reasons.”
Last week, Sheinbaum denounced Trump’s executive order, warning that imposing additional tariffs on countries that send oil to Cuba could trigger a large-scale “humanitarian crisis” on the island.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum is warning that Donald Trump’s threat to impose additional tariffs on countries that send oil to Cuba could trigger a large-scale humanitarian crisis, directly affecting hospitals, food supplies and basic services for the Cuban people. While reaffirming Mexico’s commitment to international law, she called on Washington to avoid actions that could worsen Cuba’s economic crisis.
Sheinbaum also announced that Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs Juan Ramón de la Fuente has been instructed to contact the U.S. State Department to clarify the scope of the executive order published yesterday and to convey Mexico’s concern about its humanitarian consequences.
Mexico, she said, will continue exploring ways to provide humanitarian assistance to Cuba, consistent with its long-standing tradition of solidarity.
