Background and Context
Claudia Sheinbaum, the President of Mexico City, and Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, have a strained relationship due to their differing views on Cuba and other issues. Rubio, whose parents are Cuban immigrants, has been a fierce critic of the Cuban regime, while Sheinbaum supports it. This ideological divide has led to a lack of trust and limited interaction between the two.
Impact on Mexico-US Relations
The strained relationship between Sheinbaum and Rubio has had a significant impact on Mexico-US relations. Rubio, who shapes the overall strategy for Mexico, has not visited Mexico during his first seven months in office. Meanwhile, Sheinbaum has taken charge of Mexico’s relationship with the White House, which some experts consider a strategic error.
Mexico’s Support for Cuba
Mexican Citizens United Against Corruption and Impunity (MCCI) recently exposed Mexico’s substantial support for the Cuban regime. Between May and June 2025, Pemex exported over $850 million worth of hydrocarbons to Cuba, including 10.23 million barrels of crude oil and 132.5 million liters of diesel, gasoline, and turbofuel.
Additional Support for Cuba
MCCI also revealed that the Mexican government prints 15 million textbooks for Cuba, costing approximately 387 million pesos. The organization’s report criticizes the Trump administration’s policies, stating that they intensified the blockade and persecution against Cuba.
The Castro Brothers’ Legacy
The Castro brothers and their followers have successfully justified human rights violations, crimes against humanity, and other dictatorial practices by blaming U.S. pressures and sanctions. This has allowed them to maintain power in Cuba.
Sheinbaum and Rubio: A Tale of Two Leaders
Sheinbaum and Rubio represent contrasting ideologies, with Sheinbaum aligning Mexico’s identity with the Cuban regime. Given their differing views, it remains to be seen if Sheinbaum will accept the consequences of this strained relationship with Rubio.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the nature of the relationship between Claudia Sheinbaum and Marco Rubio? Their relationship is strained due to differing views on Cuba and other issues.
- How has this strained relationship affected Mexico-US relations? Marco Rubio, who shapes the overall strategy for Mexico, has not visited Mexico during his first seven months in office. Claudia Sheinbaum’s decision to handle Mexico’s relationship with the White House is considered a strategic error by some experts.
- What support does Mexico provide to the Cuban regime? Mexico exports significant amounts of hydrocarbons to Cuba and prints millions of textbooks for Cuban schools. Mexican Citizens United Against Corruption and Impunity (MCCI) recently exposed these details.
- How have the Castro brothers maintained power in Cuba? They have successfully justified human rights violations and other dictatorial practices by blaming U.S. pressures and sanctions.
- What are the contrasting ideologies of Claudia Sheinbaum and Marco Rubio? Sheinbaum aligns Mexico’s identity with the Cuban regime, while Rubio criticizes it fiercely.
