MEXICO has sent more than 800 tons of aid to Cuba, it was reported on Sunday.

The shipment of around 814 tons of food to Cuba is a gesture of support following US threats to slap sanctions on any country supplying it with oil. It follows a Chinese donation of 60,000 tons of rice — about six weeks’ supply for the island — last month to ease food shortages caused by the tightening US blockade.

Mexico described the shipment as a symbol of “solidarity and humanitarian aid.”

In a statement, Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) said: “Through the Mexican Navy, humanitarian aid is being sent to the Republic of Cuba, via the Logistics Support Ships Papaloapan and Isla Holbox.

“Both ships set sail today from the port of Veracruz with a cargo of more than 814 tons of food.”

The ministry said the ship Papaloapan is taking “basic necessities,” to Cuba including “liquid milk, meat products, cookies, beans, rice, tuna in water, sardines and vegetable oil,” as well as personal hygiene items, with a cargo of about 536 tons of those goods.

While in the Ship Isla Holbox, it specified, “a little more than 277 tons of powdered milk were shipped for the same purpose.”

It also said that “more than 1,500 tons of powdered milk and beans are pending shipment.”

The SRE said the support “keeps alive” Mexico’s tradition of solidarity with the peoples of Latin America and in particular with the people of Cuba.

The SRE pointed out how in recent months Mexico has sent aid to the US for the floods in Texas and the fires in California.

Last week Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said: ”The problem we have now is that the US is going to impose tariffs on any country that sells to Cuba, so we are exploring all diplomatic avenues to resolve this problem, because we don’t want it to affect Mexico either.”