CITY OF MEXICO.- The recent resumption of shipments of Petroleum Mexican to Cuba has captured international attention, marking an important turning point in energy relations between both countries. This strategic move, confirmed by Jorge Piñón of the Latin American and Caribbean Energy Program at the University of Texas, highlights the complexity and challenges surrounding this bilateral collaboration.
The tanker Delsa, owned by the Cuban military conglomerate GAESA, arrived in Mexico to load fuel at PEMEX facilities, following in the footsteps of the Cuban ship Vilma that carried out a similar operation last week. Both vessels are under sanctions from the US Treasury Department, adding an additional component of tensions and diplomacy to this trade.
According to review Cuban DiaryAccording to maritime monitoring reports, the Delsa is currently at the Coatzacoalcos/Pajaritos anchorage waiting to begin loading, while the Vilma has already departed with approximately 400,000 barrels of Mexican light crude oil. These actions underline not only the operational resumption, but also the strategic importance of these exchanges for the Cuban economy during 2023 and early 2024.
During the period of suspension of these shipments, Mexico consolidated itself as the second largest supplier of oil to Cuba, after Venezuela, whose shipments have shown a constant decrease. This change in energy flows has been the subject of scrutiny by experts, who have documented 32 ship trips from Mexican ports to different destinations in Cuba since March 2023.
The debate over the financing of this energy cooperation continues to be delicate, with contradictory statements by high-level Mexican officials. While President Andrés Manuel López Obrador mentioned the possibility of considering these shipments as donations, PEMEX leaders denied this characterization, adding an additional layer of complexity to public perception and the official narrative.
The resumption of oil shipments from Mexico to Cuba represents a significant change in the regional and global panorama, where complex political, economic and diplomatic considerations converge. This renewed energy collaboration between both countries faces notable challenges, which not only affect the state and business actors involved, but also have broader implications in the geopolitical context of Latin America and the Caribbean.
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FOUNTAIN: With information from Diario de Cuba
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