Fundraising Campaign for Cuba by Former Mexican President
Former Mexican President Andres Manuel López Obrador, known as AMLO, initiated a fundraising drive over the weekend to support Cuba’s communist government. He urged individuals to contribute to a newly established charity aimed at providing “humanitarian aid” to the Cuban populace.
AMLO, who held the presidency from 2018 to 2024 before being succeeded by Claudia Sheinbaum, has mostly kept a low profile since leaving office. However, he made headlines again recently, insisting he would only come out of retirement if he felt “democracy is threatened” or if Mexico’s sovereignty needed defending.
Despite claiming to be retired, López Obrador has frequently engaged in public discourse. On social media this past Saturday, he expressed sorrow over the efforts to undermine Cuban unity, referencing how indifference could be detrimental to their fight for freedom, citing historical remarks made during the Bay of Pigs invasion.
The charity, which he mentioned, was created by a collective of “nationals, writers, and journalists” to gather funds for essentials like food and medicine for Cubans. “Let’s all contribute as much as we can!” he remarked.
Reports indicated that López Obrador’s Association for Humanity with Latin America was approved for charitable donations shortly after its establishment on March 9. The organization published calls in local newspapers, arguing that failing to support Cuba’s government was unacceptable during a time when the U.S. was allegedly starving the Cuban people.
The Cuban regime relies heavily on oil donations to sustain its crumbling infrastructure, which has deteriorated significantly due to decades of communist rule. Venezuela has been a primary oil supplier, providing Cuba with nearly free resources despite economic hardships. From 2023 to early 2026, López Obrador and Sheinbaum’s administrations purportedly facilitated monthly oil deliveries to Cuba, complementing Venezuelan supplies.
Recently, however, access to heavily subsidized oil from Venezuela diminished after political tensions. Following law enforcement operations authorized by former President Trump, which targeted Venezuelan leadership, Mexican officials ceased “humanitarian” oil shipments to Cuba, responding to Trump’s stance against its repressive regime.
Cuba’s leader, Miguel Díaz-Canel, publicly acknowledged López Obrador’s call for assistance on social media, voicing deep gratitude on behalf of Cuba for Mexico’s ongoing support. Sheinbaum also expressed her backing for the initiative during a public event, asserting that the U.S. had imposed a blockade that hindered goods from reaching Cuba and affected its citizens severely.
At a press conference, when asked about her possible donation, Sheinbaum suggested she would likely contribute personally. She framed the appeal as a gesture of solidarity, emphasizing that the struggles faced by Cubans stem from broader geopolitical issues.
Interestingly, while asserting there was a blockade, Cuban officials recently announced that humanitarian aid from Mexico had successfully arrived, highlighting the complexity of information surrounding the situation. According to reports, Cuban authority even noted that Mexico was a significant source of aid.
Additionally, Texas-based news outlets have revealed that aid efforts are made more complex due to the communist regime’s controls, which funnel all international assistance through official channels, often leading to public claims that aid is unreceived.
In a turn of events, U.S. initiatives have been introduced to deliver humanitarian aid directly to Cubans, circumventing potential barriers posed by the Cuban government. Some Mexican lawmakers from the Morena party also pledged to donate their salaries to support López Obrador’s charitable efforts.
In an environment charged with political dynamics, the situation illustrates the ongoing challenges and contradictions surrounding aid and solidarity efforts related to Cuba.
