Havana, Cuba. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he had “no problem” with any country sending oil to Cuba as a sanctioned Russian tanker neared a Cuban port with a shipment described as badly needed.
Russian tanker approaches Cuba amid fuel shortages
A sanctioned Russian vessel, described as part of Russia’s “shadow fleet,” was just off the coast of eastern Cuba on Sunday, according to ship tracking data, and was expected to reach port on Monday. The shipment was described as a lifeline for Cuba’s economy, which the article said has nearly ground to a halt under a de facto oil blockade imposed by Washington.
U.S. policy moves and supply disruptions
The U.S. cut off Venezuelan oil exports to Cuba after toppling Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3, and Trump threatened tariffs on any other country that sent crude to Cuba. Mexico, described as Cuba’s largest supplier along with Venezuela, then halted its shipments.
Cuba’s energy crisis and health concerns
Cuba has not received an oil tanker in three months, according to President Miguel Diaz-Canel, worsening an energy crisis that has led to strict gasoline rationing and blackouts across the country of 10 million people. Cuban health officials said the crisis has increased the mortality risk for Cuban cancer patients, especially children.
Trump comments aboard Air Force One
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said he was unconcerned that oil assistance might benefit the Communist government in Havana because he predicted it would soon fall. “If a country wants to send some oil into Cuba right now, I have no problem with that, whether it’s Russia or not,” Trump said.
Trump also said Cuba had “a bad regime” and “very bad and corrupt leadership,” and added that oil shipments would not change that. He said he would prefer allowing oil in because “the people need heat and cooling and all of the other things that you need.”
Broader stance and sanctions context
While expressing concern for Cubans, Trump has made threatening statements against the Cuban government and said he would turn more attention to the country after dealing with Iran. Earlier in March, the U.S. temporarily eased sanctions on Russia to improve global oil flows restricted by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, but the measure included exemptions that explicitly banned transactions involving Cuba and other places such as Iran, North Korea and Crimea.
How do you think Trump’s comments could affect future oil deliveries to Cuba?
