作者： admin

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump announced Monday that Mexico will cease oil shipments to Cuba, potentially exacerbating the island nation’s most severe economic crisis since the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991. The declaration came during an Oval Office press briefing where Trump characterized Cuba as “a failed nation.”

This development follows the earlier suspension of Venezuelan oil supplies after Nicolás Maduro’s ouster, which had previously sustained Cuba’s economy through subsidized energy imports. The termination of Mexican supplies would represent another critical blow to Cuba’s struggling infrastructure.

Trump’s administration has implemented punitive tariffs targeting nations that continue oil trade with Cuba, effectively forcing trading partners to choose between engagement with the global economic powerhouse or the impoverished Caribbean island of 11 million people.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum had previously expressed reluctance to sever energy ties, warning of potential “far-reaching humanitarian consequences affecting hospitals, food distribution, and essential services for Cuban citizens.” However, with the United States serving as Mexico’s primary trading partner, potential tariff implications pose significant risks to Mexico’s already sluggish economic growth.

Despite Sheinbaum’s assertion of “everlasting solidarity” with Cuba, she acknowledged during recent statements that “We don’t want to put our country at risk in terms of tariffs.” Notably, she claimed that Thursday’s phone conversation with Trump did not include discussions regarding Cuban oil supplies.

Trump indicated ongoing communications with Cuban leadership, stating “I think we are pretty close, but we are dealing with the Cuban leaders right now,” though providing no specific details. This was partially corroborated by Cuban Vice Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio, who acknowledged intergovernmental communications while clarifying that no formal dialogue table currently exists between the nations.

BELMOPAN, Belize – Prime Minister John Briceño of Belize has issued a forceful appeal for immediate international negotiations to prevent an escalating humanitarian emergency in Cuba, triggered by critical petroleum shortages. Addressing a special joint session of the National Assembly during an official visit by Guyanese President Dr. Irfaan Ali, Briceño emphasized the Caribbean’s foundational principle as a zone of peace and non-interference in sovereign states’ internal affairs.

Expressing profound concern over recent regional developments, Briceño specifically referenced a recently proclaimed executive order—an apparent allusion to U.S. policy measures—which he warned could precipitate severe consequences for the Cuban population. ‘The government of Belize stands in full solidarity with the Cuban people,’ he declared, characterizing the potential crisis as a ‘manufactured humanitarian disaster’ that is neither morally justifiable nor legally defensible.

The Prime Minister’s statements highlight how drastically reduced oil deliveries to Cuba, resulting from recent U.S. military actions in Venezuela that led to the detention of President Nicolás Maduro and his spouse on narcotics and weapons charges, have created a precarious situation. These developments have severely constrained Cuba’s access to essential energy resources.

In a significant regional response, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has committed to dispatching humanitarian assistance to Cuba this week, directly countering mounting pressure from Washington to cease oil shipments to the island nation.

Notably absent from President Ali’s parliamentary address was any reference to the Cuban situation, despite Guyana’s historical benefits from Cuba’s medical brigade program—an initiative the U.S. State Department has condemned as a form of modern-day slavery. Guyana’s recent strategic alignment with the United States, particularly in resisting Venezuela’s military claims to the Essequibo region, appears to have influenced its diplomatic positioning regarding Cuba.

WASHINGTON (AFP) — U.S. President Donald Trump issued an urgent appeal on Monday, calling upon the House of Representatives to promptly pass a critical spending bill and terminate the ongoing three-day federal government shutdown. The legislative impasse stemmed from a breakdown in bipartisan negotiations, triggered by Democratic outrage over the fatal shooting of two protesters in Minneapolis by federal immigration agents.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump emphasized the necessity of immediate action: “I hope all Republicans and Democrats will join me in supporting this Bill, and send it to my desk WITHOUT DELAY.” He further cautioned against prolonged delays, referencing the record 43-day shutdown last summer, stating, “We cannot have another long, pointless, and destructive Shutdown that will hurt our Country so badly.”

The Senate had previously advanced a legislative package late Friday, which included five funding bills to finance most federal agencies through September. Additionally, a two-week stopgap measure was approved to maintain operations at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) while lawmakers continue contentious negotiations on immigration enforcement policy.

However, the path forward in the House remains fraught with political challenges. Several conservative Republicans have expressed strong opposition to the Senate-backed deal, threatening to vote against it. This places House Speaker Mike Johnson, who leads a razor-thin Republican majority, in a precarious position. Johnson expressed optimism on Fox News Sunday, stating, “We’ll get all this done by Tuesday; I’m convinced.”

His task was complicated further on Monday with the swearing-in of a new Democratic member from Texas, reducing the GOP’s already narrow margin. Potential Republican defections could force Speaker Johnson to seek Democratic support to pass the funding bill and conclude the shutdown.

Should the House approve the Senate’s proposal, legislators would then face a tight two-week deadline to negotiate a comprehensive, full-year funding bill for DHS. Both parties acknowledge the political sensitivity of these forthcoming talks. Democrats are advocating for new restrictions on immigration enforcement tactics, while conservatives are pressing for their own policy priorities. Specifically, House Democrats are demanding reforms to DHS operations, citing concerns over heavily armed, masked, and unidentified agents who sometimes conduct warrantless detentions during immigration sweeps.

A government shutdown results in the temporary freezing of funds for non-essential federal operations, compelling agencies to suspend services and furlough employees without pay or require them to work pending future compensation.