President Claudia Sheinbaum revealed on December 22, 2025, that Enrique Peña Nieto's government condoned a Cuban debt with Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) in 2013. Additionally, 70% of a historical debt with Bancomext, dating back to the 1990s, was forgiven, and the remainder restructured to boost bilateral trade. These deals are part of Mexico's longstanding support for Cuba.
During the morning press conference on December 22, 2025, at the National Palace, President Claudia Sheinbaum disclosed details on historical financial agreements between Mexico and Cuba. She explained that in 2013, Enrique Peña Nieto's government made a debt donation, condoning the amount Cuba owed to Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex). “With a debt donation in 2013, the Peña Nieto government condoned the debt that the Cuban government had with Petróleos Mexicanos,” Sheinbaum stated.
In the same term, 70% of Cuba's historical debt with the National Bank of Foreign Trade (Bancomext), totaling around 343 million dollars and originating in the 1990s, was forgiven. The remainder was restructured to promote bilateral trade. “It condoned 70 percent of the historical debt with Bancomext and restructured the rest to foster bilateral trade. The chronology of presidential meetings is another matter, but it's important that you know it,” the president said.
Sheinbaum framed these supports as part of Mexico's tradition of solidarity with Cuba, regardless of the ruling party. She noted that in 2008, during Felipe Calderón's term, Cuba sought rapprochement to restructure the debt, following a period of prior distancing. In 2014, Enrique de la Madrid, then Bancomext director, clarified before the Senate that the condonation resulted from reductions due to moratorium interest accrued during times of political friction, though the principal amount was recovered.
The president announced she would receive more details on oil agreements with Cuba, highlighting recent shipments of 80,000 barrels of fuel from Pemex to ease blackouts on the island, driven by humanitarian reasons and within a sovereign legal framework. “The Mexico-Cuba relationship is historical; Mexico was the only country that opposed the blockade from the start in the OAS,” she emphasized, stressing the continuity of these ties.
