Understanding the U.S. Executive Order on Cuba
On Thursday, Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring a “national emergency” and authorizing additional tariffs on imports from any country that sells or supplies oil to Cuba. The order targets the communist regime for being authoritarian, committing serious human rights violations, aligning with Russia, China, or Iran, and having real ties to terrorist groups like Hamas or Hezbollá. These reasons are similar to those used to sanction Iran, North Korea, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Belarus. However, the U.S. selectively decides who to penalize and who not to, overlooking that countries like allies Qatar and Pakistan share similar characteristics.
Examining the Order’s Content
The executive order blends facts with exaggerations. It’s true that the Cuban regime is repressive, jails political opponents, censors dissent, and collaborates with Russia, China, and Iran in intelligence and security activities against the U.S. However, Trump overstates suggesting that Cuba “harbors” Hamas and Hezbollá as if they operated from the island or claiming that Díaz-Canel’s government “seeks to destroy” the U.S. and poses an “unusual and extraordinary threat” comparable to Russia and China.
Sheinbaum’s Response to the U.S. Order
During Friday’s morning press conference in Tijuana, President Claudia Sheinbaum warned that imposing tariffs on those supplying oil to Cuba “could trigger a humanitarian crisis” affecting hospitals, food, and essential services in the country. She stated that she asked Foreign Affairs Secretary Juan Ramón de la Fuente to contact the U.S. Department of State to understand the order’s implications and seek a diplomatic solution. She emphasized that Mexican oil shipments represent less than 1% of national production, are contract-based, and humanitarian in nature. She reiterated Mexico’s commitment to not abandoning the Cuban people while analyzing how to assist them without jeopardizing Mexico or severing ties with the U.S.
Trump’s Claims and Sheinbaum’s Options
Trump attempted to take credit, stating he asked the president to stop oil exports to Cuba “and she complied.” His account lacks substance, as the pause in oil exports to Cuba was due to cost-benefit analysis amid arrival tariff risks, not immediate obedience. Moreover, the president insists that support continues through humanitarian aid and any adjustments are decided based on Mexican interests. There’s no reason to trust Trump, given his numerous documented lies, from “millions of illegal votes” in the 2016 election to the size of his rallies or the severity of COVID-19.
Sheinbaum’s Possible Courses of Action
- Reorient support to food, medicine, and hospital supplies.
- Maintain minimal oil volume, explicitly humanitarian, to compel Washington to accept the political cost of penalizing Mexico.
- Collectivize the cost by involving Latin American or European governments.
- Leverage T-MEC review, migration, and security negotiations to make it clear that penalizing Mexico for Cuba’s situation also harms U.S. strategic interests.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is the U.S. executive order about? The order declares a national emergency and authorizes tariffs on imports from countries supplying oil to Cuba.
- Why is Sheinbaum concerned? She fears the order could cause a humanitarian crisis in Cuba, affecting hospitals, food, and essential services.
- What are Sheinbaum’s options? Reorient support to humanitarian aid, maintain minimal oil exports for political pressure, collectivize costs with other nations, or leverage negotiations to protect U.S. strategic interests.
