Russian Tanker Docks in Cuba Amid US Energy Blockade
A Russian tanker, Anatoly Kolodkin, docked at the Cuban port of Matanzas on Tuesday, carrying 730,000 barrels of oil, marking the first time in three months that an oil tanker reached the island. The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump had allowed the vessel to proceed despite an ongoing U.S. energy blockade.
The arrival of the tanker has sparked a mix of reactions among Cubans, with some welcoming the shipment as a relief from the country’s severe fuel shortage and others expressing skepticism about who would benefit from the newly arrived oil. The shortage has exacerbated Cuba’s deep economic crisis, leaving the population mired in long blackouts and facing a severe shortage of food and medicine.
Energy Crisis Worsens Economic Situation
Cuba 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. The energy crisis has had a devastating impact on the island’s economy, with Cubans facing long blackouts and shortages of essential goods.
Government Officials Celebrate Arrival
Government officials, including Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy, celebrated the ship’s arrival, expressing gratitude to the Russian government for its support. Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío wrote on X that the arrival was a “sign of the brutal siege Cubans endure with heroism and stoicism” and a “demonstration of the criminal cruelty of imperialism against a nation that refuses to be dominated.”
Public Reaction Mixed
While some Cubans welcomed the shipment, others were more skeptical. Matanzas resident Leticia Almeida Barceló questioned who would benefit from the newly arrived oil, saying, “A ship comes; it gives us aid. But who does it go to? Because we don‘t get anything here.” Others, like fishermen Armando Ramirez and Camilo Galves, celebrated the arrival as a relief for the Cuban people.
US Sanctions on Russian Tanker
The Anatoly Kolodkin is sanctioned by the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom following the war in Ukraine. The vessel’s passage was allowed despite these sanctions, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stating that it was a “decision that will continue to be made on a case-by-case basis for humanitarian reasons or otherwise.”
Original Article: Sanctioned Russian tanker docks in Cuba after US allows passage despite energy blockade — Wwnytv