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The United States government has decided to permit a Russian oil tanker to deliver its cargo to Cuba, a move that could potentially alleviate the island’s ongoing energy crisis. This development marks a significant shift in the blockade that has contributed to Cuba’s fuel shortages.
The tanker in question, the Anatoly Kolodkin, which sails under the Russian flag, was en route to Cuba on Sunday. It carries approximately 730,000 barrels of crude oil, according to a report by The New York Times, which referenced information from a U.S. official familiar with the situation.
As of Sunday, ship tracking data confirmed that the Anatoly Kolodkin was positioned near the eastern tip of Cuba, signaling its imminent arrival.
President Donald Trump, when questioned about the situation, commented, “We have a tanker out there. We don’t mind having somebody get a boatload, because they need… they have to survive,” emphasizing the humanitarian aspect of the decision.
This move by the U.S. signifies a temporary relaxation of the restrictions that have affected Cuba’s energy supply. (Photo Credit: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)
“If a country wants to send some oil into Cuba right now, I have no problem whether it’s Russia or not,” he added.
Trump had sought to restrict oil shipments to Cuba in an effort to pressure its government.
The U.S. government has temporarily eased some sanctions on Russian oil shipments to help stabilize global energy markets amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz following U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran that began last month.
President Donald Trump had sought to restrict oil shipments to Cuba in an effort to pressure its government. (Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo)
The Anatoly Kolodkin, which departed from Primorsk, Russia, could soon dock at the Matanzas port in Cuba if it remains on its current path, according to tracking services MarineTraffic and LSEG.
The oil would provide significant relief to Cuba, where President Miguel Díaz-Canel has said fuel shortages have persisted for months, forcing strict gas rationing and deepening the island’s energy crisis.
The U.S. capture of then-Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January stripped a key Cuban ally who had been providing oil to the island on favorable terms.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has said fuel shortages have persisted for months. (PABLO PORCIUNCULA/AFP via Getty Images)
The Trump administration then blocked all Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba and vowed to impose punitive tariffs on any third country that supplied shipments to the island, forcing Mexico to stop its exports to Cuba.
Another ship, the Hong Kong-flagged Sea Horse, was also carrying about 200,000 barrels of Russian fuel to Cuba, but was rerouted to Venezuela.
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