Mexico City. Former Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has called for international support for Cuba as the island nation faces a deepening economic crisis exacerbated by U.S. Sanctions. López Obrador, who largely withdrew from public life and social media after leaving office, issued a plea for aid on March 15, 2026, citing the restrictions Cuba faces in acquiring essential resources like fuel.
The former president urged citizens to contribute to a fundraising campaign benefiting the Cuban people, directing donations to the same bank account previously used by the newspaper La Jornada. The account belongs to the civil association Humanidad con América Latina, supported by workers and collaborators of the publication.
In a message posted on his X account, López Obrador stated, “I am in retirement, but it pains me that they seek to exterminate, for their ideals of freedom and defense of sovereignty, the brotherly people of Cuba.”
López Obrador also referenced the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, recalling the words of General Cárdenas: “It is not permissible to preach our indifference to their heroic struggle, because their fate is ours.” This statement underscores the historical ties and solidarity Mexico has often expressed toward Cuba.
He called on citizens to donate to Banorte account 1358451779, held by Humanidad con América Latina, to purchase food, medicine, oil and gasoline for the Cuban people, encouraging contributions of any amount. The fundraising effort aims to provide immediate relief to a nation struggling with shortages.
During his presidency, López Obrador strengthened relations between Mexico and Cuba, reversing a period of distance seen under previous administrations. He visited Havana in May 2022, where he was awarded the José Martí Order, Cuba’s highest honor for a foreign national, by Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel. The move signaled a renewed commitment to regional cooperation and mutual support. Mexico has also criticized the U.S. Embargo on Cuba, calling it a “genocidal policy.”
The renewed focus on Cuba comes as Mexico also grapples with a surge in migrants, a situation López Obrador has partially attributed to U.S. Sanctions against Cuba and Venezuela.
