Amid a severe electricity and energy crisis triggered by the near-total blockade of Cuba, the U.S. government is reportedly set to allow a Russian oil tanker to dock, offering limited relief to escalating tensions. This move is seen as a delicate adjustment between sustained pressure and practical necessity.
The U.S. government is planning to allow a Russian oil tanker to dock in Cuba, a move that will alleviate the energy crisis triggered by the previous U.S. ban on oil shipments to the regime.
According to two informed sources, the crude oil shipment is expected to be approved for arrival in the coming days. These individuals requested anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly.
The 'Anatoly Kolodkin,' currently carrying approximately 730,000 barrels of crude oil, has seen recent cooperation efforts from Cuban authorities, including allowing fuel destined for the U.S. Embassy in Cuba to enter the island after previously stating it would block such supplies due to the nearly total embargo imposed by the United States.
As of Sunday afternoon last week, the tanker was approaching Cuba from Haitian waters, heading toward the port of Matanzas in the west.
The U.S. Department of State did not respond to requests for comment regarding its position on the tanker, while the White House also declined to comment. The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs similarly did not respond to inquiries.
U.S. President Trump has repeatedly threatened actions against the leftist government amid intensified efforts to cut off fuel and financing sources for the Cuban government. Under the near-complete blockade, crude oil and fuel supplies have been severed, leading to widespread power outages across Cuba in recent weeks.
Last month, the United Nations warned that U.S. actions were having an 'increasingly severe impact' on hospitals, public health, water supply, and food distribution, urging countries to cease economic coercion measures.
Tanieris Diéguez La O, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Cuban Embassy in Washington, stated in an interview earlier this month that electricity shortages had led to the postponement of tens of thousands of surgeries, leaving pregnant women and other patients without access to essential medical services and disrupting critical treatments such as dialysis.
Although the country’s roughly 10 million residents have long faced periodic blackouts, the crisis has significantly worsened following the implementation of Trump's embargo policies.
Given that Cuba’s thermal power plants require about 100,000 barrels of oil daily to meet demand, this shipment is expected to sustain the national power system for approximately one week. Domestic production in Cuba can only meet about two-fifths of this requirement.
The United States is currently regulating the flow of energy to Cuba through a selective approach: permitting companies to sell fuel to the country's very small but rapidly growing SME sector, while excluding the government from such transactions.
The New York Times had previously reported on plans by the Trump administration related to the tanker.
Trump warns that Cuba is 'next.'
Last Friday, Trump appeared at the Saudi Business Forum in Miami, boasting about America’s victory in the war with Iran and warning that Cuba would be 'next.'
Trump’s remarks covered a range of issues, primarily focused on the Middle East, but he also singled out the island nation as his next target, continuing his harsh criticism of NATO, which he believes did not 'help' him during Washington’s conflict with Tehran.
“For 47 years, Iran has been known as the bully of the Middle East, but they are no longer a bully. They are on the run,” Trump said during an event hosted by the Future Investment Initiative, earning enthusiastic applause for much of his speech.
Trump reiterated that if the U.S. had not 'completely wiped out' Iran, the country would have had nuclear weapons within 'two to four weeks,' although he claimed that last year’s U.S. bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities set back its program by several years.
“They would have used it against you, Israel, and everyone else,” he told the Saudi attendees.
He also hinted at potential actions against Cuba, “By the way, Cuba is next, but pretend I didn’t say that,” he stated. “Please, please, please, media, ignore this statement. Thank you very much.”
Editor/Melody