Russian Ship Nears Cuba Despite US Oil Restrictions

(SeaPRwire) –   According to the New York Times, Washington has reportedly chosen not to intercept the vessel.

The New York Times reports that Cuba is on track to receive a humanitarian oil consignment from Russia as soon as this week. This shipment arrives after months of a US blockade that has caused acute fuel shortages and persistent power outages across the island.

According to vessel-tracking data, the Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin, which is transporting about 730,000 barrels of crude oil, is nearing the nation’s territorial waters and may dock at the port of Matanzas by Tuesday.

Even though US Coast Guard ships are in the vicinity, an official knowledgeable about the situation told the Times on Sunday that “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 not made any public comments regarding the reported decision, despite US President Donald Trump’s frequent threats of tariffs against nations supplying fuel to Cuba.

After Venezuela, previously Havana’s staunchest ally, stopped sending oil due to pressure from Washington, the Caribbean country has endured serious fuel deficits and electricity blackouts in recent months. Ship-tracking information shows that various international fuel deliveries have been interrupted, and ships connected to Havana have had trouble securing fuel; some have been refused or intercepted, with at least one being escorted out of Cuban waters.

Havana agreed earlier this month to negotiate with Washington to reduce tensions and stop a humanitarian crisis. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel stated that negotiations are in progress, seeking “finding solutions through dialogue to the bilateral differences we have between the two nations.”

Trump, however, has maintained his expressed goal to take control of the island “one way or another.” On Friday, he indicated that Cuba could be “next” after the US military operations he described as successful in Venezuela and Iran.