Cuban Oil Crisis Deepens as Sanctioned Russian Tanker Arrives
Cuba prepared to receive a sanctioned Russian oil tanker carrying about 730,000 barrels of oil, the first such delivery this year to the island struggling under a U.S. oil blockade.
The exact location of the Russian-flagged Anatoly Kolodkin remained a subject of conflicting reports. Although the Russian Transport Ministry and the state-run news portal Cubadebate said the vessel had already arrived, ship-tracking data showed it was still navigating Cuban waters with an estimated docking time of Tuesday.
U.S. Sanctions Policy Under Scrutiny
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Monday said Russia had previously discussed its oil shipment to Cuba with the United States. “Russia considers it its duty not to stand aside, but to provide the necessary assistance to our Cuban friends,” he told reporters.
The tanker’s final destination is the port of Matanzas, a strategic hub for an island that produces barely 40% of its required fuel and relies on imports to sustain its energy grid. Experts say the anticipated shipment could produce about 180,000 barrels of diesel, enough to feed Cuba‘s daily demand for nine or 10 days.
White House Clarifies Sanctions Policy
Asked about Trump’s decision to allow the Russian oil tanker and not ones from other nations, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday called it “a decision that will continue to be made on a case-by-case basis for humanitarian reasons or otherwise,” adding that “there’s been no firm change in our sanctions policy.”
Cuba’s Energy Crisis Worsens
Trump, whose administration has come at its Caribbean adversary more aggressively than any U.S. government in recent history, has in effect cut Cuba off from key oil shipments in an effort to force leadership change. The blockade has had devastating effects on the civilians Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio say they want to help, leaving many desperate.
Islandwide blackouts have roiled Cubans who have grappled with years of crisis, and a lack of gasoline and basic resources has crippled hospitals and slashed public transport.
Mexico’s Humanitarian Aid Efforts Continue
For years, Mexico sent oil to Cuba in solidarity as the island struggled with an energy crisis, but it was forced to halt the shipments under the threat of U.S. tariffs. Mexico pivoted to sending humanitarian aid, including food and hygiene products.
Asked about Trump’s comments on allowing the Russian vessel through, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told journalists that her country will continue sending aid and that “work was underway” with Cuban authorities to trade oil in the future.
Sheinbaum noted that private companies in Cuba, including hotels, “are looking for private entities willing to supply them with fuel,” and that they have approached Mexico’s state-owned oil company to purchase crude oil, adding that these requests are being reviewed.
Original Article: Cuba to receive a sanctioned Russian oil tanker as it struggles under U.S. blockade — Latimes