Cuba anticipates a humanitarian oil delivery from Russia as early as this week, providing relief from months of acute fuel shoages and widespread power outages triggered by a US blockade.
Shipment Details
The Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, transpoing about 730,000 barrels of crude oil, enters Cuban territorial waters and could dock at Matanzas po by Tuesday, ship-tracking data reveals.
US Response
US Coast Guard ships operate nearby, but the Trump administration has issued no orders to intercept the vessel. An official familiar with operations stated, “The Trump administration did not order those vessels to act.” The source, speaking anonymously, added, “Barring orders instructing it otherwise, the Coast Guard planned to let the tanker reach Cuba as of Sunday afternoon.”
The White House has offered no public statement on the matter, despite President Donald Trump’s prior threats of tariffs against nations supplying fuel to Cuba.
Fuel Crisis Origins
The Caribbean island grapples with severe shoages after Venezuela, once a key supplier, suspended shipments amid US pressure. Numerous international deliveries encountered issues: vessels tied to Havana faced supply hurdles, with several denied access or intercepted—one even escoed from Cuban waters, according to tracking records.
Diplomatic Moves
Havana recently launched talks with Washington to ease tensions and ave a humanitarian emergency. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed ongoing negotiations, stating they aim at “finding solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences we have between the two nations.”
President Trump, however, persists with his goal to address Cuba “one way or another.” On Friday, he suggested the island could follow Venezuela and Iran as the “next” target after recent US actions there.
