MEXICO CITY, Dec. 22 (Xinhua) -- Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday said that shipping Mexican oil to Cuba was carried out in accordance with the principles of sovereignty and humanitarianism.

The energy and financial collaboration between the two countries is transparent and legitimate, and deeply rooted in their bilateral history, she stressed during a morning press conference.

The Mexican president made the remarks despite repeated criticism from the U.S. government, which has asked Mexico to reconsider its relationship with Cuba.

"First, we are doing this within a legal framework as a sovereign country, and second, we are continuing a series of support measures that our country has historically provided Cuba," she said.

Sheinbaum added that she asked state-owned oil company Petroleos Mexicanos to submit a report on oil shipments to the Caribbean nation during her administration, noting the measure is lawful and conforms to the "humanitarian" principles that guide her government's policies.

The oil agreements between Mexico and Cuba date back decades and have endured despite changes in the Mexican government, she said.