Mexico City, Mexico - Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum warned that President Donald Trump's brutal blockade of Cuba could potentially trigger a major "humanitarian crisis."

Sheinbaum's comments came after Trump threatened to pursue tariffs against countries that continue to supply Cuba with oil, despite previous assurances that Mexico could continue its longstanding relationship with the island nation.

"We need to know the scope because we don't want to put our country at risk in terms of tariffs," Sheinbaum said during her press conference on Friday.

"Applying tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba could trigger a far-reaching humanitarian crisis, directly affecting hospitals, food, and other basic services for the Cuban people, a situation that must be avoided," she warned.

Earlier in January, Sheinbaum offered to help mediate as the Trump administration increased its threats against Cuba.

Although she has promised to maintain "solidarity," some Mexican oil shipments have reportedly already been frozen amid uncertainty and intense US pressure.

Sheinbaum also claimed to have been blindsided by the sudden and extreme escalation.

"We did not touch on the topic of Cuba, and in the evening then this came out," she said, referencing Trump's executive order.

She said that she had instructed Mexico's Foreign Affairs Secretary, Juan Ramón de la Fuente Ramírez, to get in touch with the State Department and open negotiations.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a far-right Cuban-American and virulent anticommunist, is considered to be the main architect of the aggressive Cuba policy.