Washington, United States. The White House said on Monday it has not changed US policy toward Cuba, even as it allowed a sanctioned Russian tanker to deliver fuel to the island for humanitarian reasons. The administration said such decisions would be handled on a case-by-case basis.
White House: no formal change in sanctions policy
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters the decision did not represent a shift in sanctions policy. “This is not a policy change. There has not been a formal change in sanctions policy,” Leavitt said.
She said the shipment was allowed to proceed to meet humanitarian needs in Cuba. “As the president said last night, we allowed this ship to reach Cuba in order to provide humanitarian needs to the Cuban people,” she said.
Leavitt added that the United States still reserves the right to seize vessels, if legally applicable, that are headed toward Cuba and violate US sanctions policy.
Trump comments and prior measures cited
The report said the United States cut off Venezuela’s oil exports to Cuba after toppling Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3, and President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs on any other country that sent crude to Cuba.
It said Trump on Sunday indicated a change in approach and expressed sympathy for the Cuban people’s need for energy. “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 told reporters.
Cuba energy crisis and tanker arrival
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said Cuba had not received an oil tanker in three months, worsening an energy crisis that has led to strict gasoline rationing and a series of blackouts across the country of ten million people.
Cuban health officials said the crisis has increased the mortality risk for Cuban cancer patients, especially children.
Russia said on Monday that an oil tanker carrying 100,000 metric tonnes of crude oil had arrived in Cuba.
How do you think the US should balance sanctions enforcement with humanitarian needs in Cuba?
