US allows Russian oil tanker to reach Cuba as Trump says 'we don't mind'
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The U.S. allowed a Russian tanker carrying crude oil to reach Cuba on March 30, despite a de facto oil blockade imposed by Washington, marking a shift in U.S. policy.
The move follows weeks of tightened restrictions on fuel shipments to Cuba and comes as Washington recalibrates sanctions enforcement during disruptions to global oil supplies.
U.S. President Donald Trump said he had "no problem" with the shipment.
"We don't mind having somebody get a boatload because they have to survive," he said. "If a country wants to send some oil to Cuba right now, I have no problem whether it's Russia or not."
Ship-tracking data showed the Russian-flagged tanker Anatoly Kolodkin carrying roughly 650,000–730,000 barrels of crude oil approaching Cuban waters. The Russian Transport Ministry later confirmed that the shipment arrived in the country.
The tanker is under U.S., EU, and U.K. sanctions related to Russia's war against Ukraine.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel earlier said the country had not received oil imports for three months, leading to strict gasoline rationing and repeated nationwide power outages.
The situation worsened after the U.S. captured Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in January, removing a key Cuban ally who had long supplied oil to the island on favorable terms.
Washington subsequently blocked Venezuelan oil shipments to Cuba and threatened tariffs on countries that continued supplying the island, prompting Mexico to halt its exports.
The decision comes as the U.S. has temporarily eased some sanctions on Russian oil exports following disruptions to global supply caused by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, further complicating the geopolitical dynamics surrounding the shipment.
Cuba and Russia have maintained close ties since the Cold War. Media reports suggest that upwards of 5,000 Cuban fighters are actively participating in fighting for Russia in Ukraine.
Most recently, Cuba joined the Russian-led BRICS group as a partner country in October 2024.
