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“I Have No Problem With That”: US Greenlights Russian Oil Delivery to Cuba
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The United States Coast Guard has allowed a Russian tanker carrying crude oil to proceed toward Cuba, easing pressure on the island after months of restricted fuel supplies under the Trump administration.
This was reported by The New York Times on March 29, citing a US official familiar with the situation.
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The tanker, owned by the Russian government and carrying an estimated 730,000 barrels of oil, was located just miles from Cuban territorial waters on the evening of March 29, according to ship-tracking data from MarineTraffic, as reported by The New York Times. The vessel was expected to arrive at the port of Matanzas by the night of March 30.
Analysts said the delivery could temporarily stabilize Cuba’s worsening energy crisis, potentially extending the country’s fuel reserves by several weeks. The shipment may also ease mounting economic pressure on the Cuban government, which has faced increasing strain amid reduced imports and tightening US measures.
According to The New York Times, since January, the Trump administration has effectively imposed an oil blockade on Cuba, warning countries against supplying fuel and, in at least one instance, redirecting a tanker away from the island. Despite having Coast Guard vessels in the region capable of interception, US authorities chose not to act in this case.
It remains unclear whether the decision signals a broader shift in US policy or represents a one-time exception. The move also avoids a potential confrontation with Russia near US territorial waters, the outlet reported.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday evening, US President Donald Trump confirmed the decision.
“We don’t mind having somebody get a boatload, because they need—they have to survive,” he said. “I told them, if a country wants to send some oil into Cuba right now, I have no problem with that. Whether it’s Russia or not.”
The decision to allow the tanker to proceed also comes amid broader adjustments in US sanctions policy related to Russian energy exports.
Earlier, the US Department of the Treasury issued a 30-day license permitting the sale and delivery of Russian crude oil and petroleum products that were already in transit at sea. According to the Office of Foreign Assets Control, the authorization applies to shipments loaded onto vessels before 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on March 12, 2026, and remains valid until April 11, 2026.
US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent said the measure is designed to stabilize global energy markets and manage supply disruptions linked to ongoing geopolitical tensions, including the US-Israel operation in Iran.
“To increase the global reach of existing supply, the US Department of the Treasury is providing a temporary authorization to permit countries to purchase Russian oil currently stranded at sea,” Bessent wrote.
He added that the decision is limited in scope and is not expected to significantly benefit Russia financially.
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“This narrowly tailored, short-term measure applies only to oil already in transit and will not provide significant financial benefit to the Russian government, which derives the majority of its energy revenue from taxes assessed at the point of extraction,” he said.
At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautioned that relaxing restrictions on Russian energy exports risks providing the Kremlin with additional resources to sustain its war effort.
Speaking in an interview with Le Monde, as cited in a March 26 post on X, he emphasized the direct link between financial flows and Russia’s military capacity.
“Why do we react so sensitively to sanctions being lifted? Because it’s about money. And money isn’t just tanks. Nobody fights with tanks anymore. Money means drones. Money means people. People mean contracts. And if they don’t have the money for contracts, their strength is declining,” Zelenskyy stated.
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