Between May and August of 2025, Mexico sent more than 3 billion dollars in subsidized fuels to Cuba through the state subsidiary Gasolinas Bienestar, a figure that triples the shipments recorded during the last two years of the previous administration.
This has raised serious questions about transparency, public spending priorities, and possible diplomatic risks, as some of the shipments may have been carried out using a vessel sanctioned by the United States.
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Quantity, frequency, and routesIn those four months, 58 shipments of hydrocarbons – including gasoline, diesel, and crude oil – were documented leaving Mexican ports for the Caribbean island.Most of those ships departed from Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, with only three leaving from Tampico, Tamaulipas.
The shipments are carried out by Gasolinas Bienestar, a Pemex subsidiary created in 2022 with the declared mission of supplying Cuba with subsidized fuel.
Use of a sanctioned vessel
One of the vessels identified on these routes was the Sandino, included in 2019 by the United States Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on its blacklist for participating in operations linked to the shipment of Venezuelan oil to Cuba.
In August, the Sandino sailed from the Pemex terminal in Laguna de Pajaritos, Veracruz, and arrived seven days later at the “Camilo Cienfuegos” refinery in Cuba.
Financial impact and budget comparison
The more than 3 billion dollars equate to about 60 billion Mexican pesos, approximately the same as the projected budget for the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) in 2026.
Gasolinas Bienestar has already reported losses and debt in its first year of operation, attributed to the “gifted” fuel to Cuba.
This increase in shipments occurs while Pemex faces financial and debt challenges, raising concerns about the sustainability of these subsidies.
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Diplomatic risks and international policies
Carrying out fuel shipments using a vessel sanctioned by the U.S. could open up diplomatic tensions or commercial repercussions.
Moreover, in the context of the U.S. embargo on Cuba, these operations could be interpreted by Washington as a direct challenge to its sanction policies.
Main criticisms and questions
Transparency: Pemex and Mexican authorities have not made certain documents or payment receipts related to the shipments public.
Priorities: Is this the best way to use public resources when there are internal problems in Mexico (security, health, infrastructure, poverty)?
Effectiveness and reciprocity: What does Mexico gain from this type of external subsidy, beyond diplomatic rhetoric?
This episode — the “gifted” shipment of more than 3 billion dollars in fuel to Cuba in just four months — represents much more than international aid: it is a political decision that demands explanation.
In the current context, where Mexico faces fiscal crises, security challenges, and growing social demand, every public peso must yield results for the citizenry.
We argue that foreign policy cannot and should not operate outside of national responsibility. If Mexico chooses to support foreign governments with energy subsidies, it must at least ensure that these acts are fully documented, that there are efficient controls, and that they do not bring hidden costs to those who have the least within the country.
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