In a significant development highlighting shifting energy alliances, a tanker carrying a substantial cargo of oil from Mexico docked in Cuba over the weekend. This delivery arrives against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical friction between the United States and Venezuela, marked by a series of US seizures of Venezuela-linked oil tankers.
Oil Delivery Amid Rising Tensions
The vessel, identified as the Ocean Mariner, arrived at Havana, Cuba's largest city, on Saturday, 10 January. According to shipping data monitored by Bloomberg, the tanker was transporting an estimated 85,000 to 90,000 barrels of oil. It had departed from the Pajaritos Petrochemical complex in Mexico's Veracruz state on 5 January. This facility is operated by the state-owned energy giant, Petroleos Mexicanos (Pemex).
The timing of this shipment is crucial. It follows a sharp increase in US military actions targeting oil tankers suspected of violating sanctions on Venezuela. Just a day before the Ocean Mariner's arrival, on Friday, 9 January, the US military announced the seizure of a fifth such vessel. These actions are part of Washington's intensified campaign to curb the flow of Venezuelan oil, a policy that has directly impacted Cuba, a long-standing beneficiary of Caracas's energy subsidies.
Cuba's Precarious Position and Mexico's Role
Experts, including those cited in an ABC News report, have raised alarms about the potential consequences for Cuba. A sudden halt in Venezuelan oil shipments, they warn, could trigger widespread social unrest and mass migration from the Caribbean island nation. The situation grew more tense following the capture of Venezuela's former president, Nicolás Maduro.
In this volatile context, Mexico has emerged as a critical alternative supplier for Cuba. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum explicitly confirmed her country's commitment to continuing oil exports to Cuba. During her daily press conference on Wednesday, she framed the shipments partly as humanitarian aid.
"With the current situation in Venezuela, Mexico has become an important supplier," President Sheinbaum stated, as reported by Bloomberg. "Previously it was Venezuela, but it's part of what has historically been sent." She added that some of these exports are covered by existing contractual obligations.
US Stance and Regional Repercussions
Mexico's deepening energy ties with Cuba have drawn criticism from American lawmakers and have further strained relations between the Sheinbaum administration and the US government under President Donald Trump. The US strategy appears focused on redirecting Venezuela's economic partnerships.
In a recent social media post, President Trump claimed that Venezuela, following a deal with the US, "is going to be purchasing ONLY American Made Products" with proceeds from its oil exports. He framed this as a commitment to making the United States Venezuela's principal partner, calling it a "wise choice" for both nations.
The convergence of these events—the Mexican oil shipment, the US tanker seizures, and the political standoff over Venezuela—paints a picture of a rapidly reorganizing energy landscape in the Caribbean and Latin America. Cuba finds itself navigating these turbulent waters, reliant on new partnerships as traditional ones come under unprecedented pressure from Washington.
