Russia supplied oil to Cuba

The US Coast Guard did not detain the ship "Anatoly Kolodkin"

The Russian tanker Anatoly Kolodkin delivered about 100 thousand tons of oil (approximately 730 thousand barrels) to Cuba as humanitarian aid. The US Coast Guard did not detain the ship.

It was previously reported that patrol boats had not received an order to intercept, and the tanker was supposed to reach the port of Matanzas by March 31. But, according to the Russian Ministry of Transport and the Russian Embassy in Havana , on March 30 the tanker was already in the Cuban port of Matanzas.

It also became known that Russia sent a second tanker, Sea Horse, flying the Hong Kong flag, to Cuba and continues its journey. There is Russian gas on board.

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Moscow's support and the energy crisis on the island

The Kremlin said that the delivery was related to the difficult situation in Cuba.

“Russia considers it its duty not to stand aside and provide the necessary assistance to our Cuban friends,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized .

He confirmed that Moscow coordinated actions with its “American counterparts.” According to Russian Ambassador to Cuba Viktor Coronelli, support is being provided “under conditions of unprecedented pressure and threats from the United States.”

US position and political context

Oil supplies are necessary to generate electricity and meet the country's basic needs.

After the cessation of supplies from Venezuela and increasing sanctions pressure, Cuba was faced with a large-scale energy crisis: on March 16, almost the entire island was left without electricity.

US President Donald Trump said he has no objection to oil supplies to Cuba. “If any country wants to send oil to Cuba now, I have no problem with it, whether it's Russia or anyone else,” Trump said.

At the same time, he added: “Cuba is finished, they have a bad regime, a very bad and corrupt leadership, and whether they get a ship with oil or not, it will not change anything.”

Washington has previously increased pressure on Havana, including restrictions on oil supplies and the possibility of imposing tariffs on countries cooperating with Cuba. The White House said the island maintains ties with “hostile” states, including hosting Russian intelligence facilities .

Against this background, Trump also claimed that Cuba was negotiating with the United States and “might soon fall,” even allowing for the possibility of a “friendly takeover” of the island.

Previously, “Verstka” wrote about the suspension of flights to Cuba . Russian airlines flew tourists out due to the fuel crisis after US restrictive measures.

Photo: Tanker “Anatoly Kolodkin”, August 21, 2019. Chas Betts/Marinetraffic

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