Roberta Lajous, former Mexican ambassador to the island, appeals to her country’s “great diplomatic tradition” to facilitate dialogue with the US.
14ymedio/EFE, Madrid, 7 February 2025 — “It is not possible to continue defending an economic system that has failed and is causing people to go hungry,” said Roberta Lajous, Mexico’s ambassador to Havana between 2002 and 2005, in an interview with EFE, referring to the Cuban government. “And on the other hand, on the part of the United States, it is absurd to continue insisting on an economic embargo that has not worked for 60 years.”
If the aim is to avoid an escalation of the conflict and move towards détente, Lajous believes that Havana and Washington must make political gestures that will allow them to “sit down at the table”. To this end, Mexico would have to take an active role and promote a diplomatic initiative to mediate between the two sides.
In this regard, she criticised the sending of humanitarian aid as the only response to the crisis. “Mexico must play an active role in the Cuban crisis, not send handouts,” said the former ambassador, referring to the assistance announced by Claudia Sheinbaum’s government, a promise that seems insignificant in the face of the increasing suffocation suffered by Cubans.
“Mexico must play an active role in the Cuban crisis, not just send handouts.”
“Mexico cannot sit idly by,” said Lajous. “Mexico has a great diplomatic tradition and must draw on its history and human resources.”
She described the situation in Cuba as a “tragedy” for the island’s population: “They have no electricity, nothing to eat and no transport to bring food from producers to consumers.”
Regarding Mexico’s oil shipments to Cuba, Lajous acknowledged that it would currently be “suicidal” given the coercive measures imposed by the White House. “The United States is sending humanitarian aid to Cuba, and there is no reason why Mexico should not do the same. Oil is another matter (…) Mexico has not said so clearly, but it seems that these exports have been halted because of this measure imposed by the Trump administration,” he said.
President Claudia Sheinbaum has reiterated that her government has “set the table” to facilitate mediation and has offered the country as a venue for possible negotiations, although she has clarified that any dialogue would depend exclusively on the willingness of Washington and Havana.
Meanwhile, the Cuban government persists in its stance of dialogue only “without interference”, while persistent rumours circulate about meetings between representatives of Havana and the White House in Mexico City, in addition to Trump’s multiple statements about the existence of negotiations with Cuba.
Translated by GH
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