The United States discovered that Mexico, through Petróleos Mexicanos (PEMEX), was giving fuel to Cuba, a country governed by the dictatorship of Miguel Díaz-Canel. The situation caused a loan of 800 million dollars that was going to go to the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador ( AMLO ) to be stopped, something that was celebrated by Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL).

According to estimates, Mexico sent more than $200 million dollars in free fuel to Havana. This situation is not being tolerated by the United States and it did not take long for action to be taken on the matter.

It turns out that the Export and Import Bank made the decision to suspend a loan of $800 million that was going to be allocated to PEMEX, the Mexican company, which lately has not been very financially stable.

Congresswoman Salazar, who came to Congress in 2021 after defeating Democratic incumbent Donna Shalala, issued a statement celebrating the decision.

"The President of Mexico is using Pemex as a charity for dictators. This decision by the Export-Import Bank is an example for the rest of the United States Government on how to stand up for human rights in our hemisphere. What a relief to see that at least one agency is still interested in enforcing US law against the Castro/Díaz-Canel regime," she wrote.

She even wrote a letter to Reta Jo Lewis, president of the Export-Import Bank, congratulating her for her actions. There, she explained that the fuel gifts began in 2021, in an attempt to replace what previously was imported from China or Russia.

In response, Mexico assured that it would be willing to start charging Cuba for the gasoline that until now had been sent at no cost.

In addition, the Republican congresswoman released a video reacting to the situation. "That mistake, of giving gasoline to Cuba, cost Mexico the United States, a bank that is financed by taxpayers, and very good from the Biden Administration, they took away a loan of 800 million dollars that was about to be given to the Mexican government. Here you cannot give loans financed by North American taxpayers to anyone who is giving gasoline to the Castro regime," she stated.