Donald Trump has signaled a reversal of Washington’s blockade on oil shipments to Cuba, saying he has “no problem” with any country sending crude to the island as a sanctioned Russian tanker approaches port.
Speaking aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said he would allow fuel deliveries “whether it’s Russia or anybody else,” marking a shift from earlier threats to penalize nations exporting oil to Cuba.
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The comments come as a Russian tanker carrying hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude nears Cuban waters, potentially providing the country with its first major fuel delivery in months.
Russian tanker approaches Cuba
The vessel, identified as the Anatoly Kolodkin, departed from Russia’s Primorsk port carrying between 650,000 and 730,000 barrels of crude oil, according to ship tracking data. It is expected to arrive in Cuba on Monday.
The shipment is being closely watched after months of severe fuel shortages in Cuba, which has faced strict rationing and widespread blackouts affecting its 10 million residents.
Cuban authorities say the country has not received oil shipments for three months, deepening an energy crisis that has also impacted healthcare services, including increased risks for vulnerable patients.
Shift in U.S. policy amid sanctions changes
The United States had previously tightened restrictions on oil flows to Cuba following the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on January 3, warning of tariffs on any country supplying crude to Havana.
Mexico, once a key supplier alongside Venezuela, halted shipments following those measures.
However, Washington recently eased certain sanctions on Russia to improve global oil flows disrupted by the ongoing Iran war, while still explicitly excluding transactions involving Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Crimea.
Despite those restrictions, the arrival of the Russian tanker has been interpreted as a challenge to the U.S. blockade by Cuban state media.
Energy crisis and geopolitical tensions
Cuba’s government has described the shipment as critical to stabilizing its strained energy system. Analysts say the cargo could temporarily ease shortages for up to a month, depending on rationing levels.
The Russian vessel is part of what analysts describe as Moscow’s “shadow fleet,” and reportedly received naval escort through the English Channel before heading toward the Caribbean.
Observers note that Russia’s role in supplying Cuba has grown in importance amid shifting global alliances linked to the war in Iran and the weakening of other regional partners.
While Trump expressed sympathy for Cuban civilians facing shortages, he also said he expects political change in Havana, calling the country’s leadership “bad and corrupt” and suggesting the government would eventually collapse without intervention.
