A Russian-owned tanker carrying an estimated 730,000 barrels of crude oil has docked on the northern coast of Cuba, ending a near-total fuel blockade by the US on the communist-run island. The tanker's arrival marks the first crude oil shipment to dock in one of Cuba's ports since early January. It follows an apparent softening in Washington's oil blockade, after President Trump said last weekend that he had 'no problem' with countries sending fuel to Cuba.
The country has been hit by a series of nationwide blackouts, and most hospitals have been unable to operate normally, with severe rationing in place. The Anatoly Kolodkin oil tanker arrived in the port of Matanzas, east of Havana, on Tuesday.
President Trump stated that he did not object to other nations sending oil to the island because Cubans 'have to survive'. Cuba was cut off from oil supplies in January after US forces captured its main regional ally, Venezuela's socialist leader Nicolás Maduro, and Trump threatened to impose tariffs on countries that sent oil to the island.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the ship was allowed to reach Cuba to provide humanitarian needs, but emphasized that there has been no official change in U.S. policy regarding the blockade.
While the crude oil is now in Cuba, it still needs to be refined at an ageing refinery in Havana – a process which could take longer than a week. The island has been suffering the effects of the blockade with most hospitals unable to function normally, schools and government offices forced to close, and the tourism sector heavily impacted.
Drivers are limited to purchasing only 20 litres of fuel at a time and must join long waiting lists via a state-run app, with wait times stretching for weeks. Analysts suggest that the Russian oil might provide the Cuban economy with just a few weeks of relief, with the more urgent need being diesel to support essential services.
The country has been hit by a series of nationwide blackouts, and most hospitals have been unable to operate normally, with severe rationing in place. The Anatoly Kolodkin oil tanker arrived in the port of Matanzas, east of Havana, on Tuesday.
President Trump stated that he did not object to other nations sending oil to the island because Cubans 'have to survive'. Cuba was cut off from oil supplies in January after US forces captured its main regional ally, Venezuela's socialist leader Nicolás Maduro, and Trump threatened to impose tariffs on countries that sent oil to the island.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that the ship was allowed to reach Cuba to provide humanitarian needs, but emphasized that there has been no official change in U.S. policy regarding the blockade.
While the crude oil is now in Cuba, it still needs to be refined at an ageing refinery in Havana – a process which could take longer than a week. The island has been suffering the effects of the blockade with most hospitals unable to function normally, schools and government offices forced to close, and the tourism sector heavily impacted.
Drivers are limited to purchasing only 20 litres of fuel at a time and must join long waiting lists via a state-run app, with wait times stretching for weeks. Analysts suggest that the Russian oil might provide the Cuban economy with just a few weeks of relief, with the more urgent need being diesel to support essential services.
