00:00From trash piling up around Havana to petrol rationing and even a lack of fuel for jetliners,
00:06Cuba may be weathering its worst economic crisis since the 1959 revolution
00:10after a US oil blockade choked off supplies, leaving nearby Mexico to send in humanitarian aid.
00:17The embassy has to thank Mexico, the government and President Claudia Sheinbaum
00:22who's defended the sovereignty and the right of sovereignty of the Cuban people and the Mexican people.
00:28The threads of support for Cuba have long been woven into the very fabric of Mexican society,
00:34with Mexico City maintaining a good relationship with Havana for decades.
00:38Both Mexico and Venezuela supplied most of the 60% of the oil Cuba imported,
00:44at least until the US abducted the latter's leader in January
00:47and threatened Mexico with tariffs to cut off Havana's energy supply,
00:51aiming to force it into economic and political reform.
00:54With Cuba and us, we are talking.
00:57In the meantime, there's an embargo.
01:00There's no oil, there's no money, there's no anything.
01:03Ever since, Mexico has struggled to maintain its prior line,
01:07but without energy support for Havana and without angering a Washington
01:11all too willing to wield trade weapons to get what it wants.
01:14It's symbolic, it's important, and it's showing that Mexico is showing solidarity.
01:23But we must not fool ourselves.
01:26It's a symbolic act and doesn't help the real problem on the island
01:30and its long-term situation.
01:34For now, Cuba has indicated it's open to negotiation with Washington,
01:39but not at the expense of its sovereignty.
01:41And Mexico has continued to urge for a diplomatic solution,
01:45while its support for its neighbor appears increasingly threadbare.
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