US allows Russian oil tanker to reach Cuba

The Week ^ | 03/30/2026 | Peter Weber

[SeekAndFind]

What happened

The U.S. is allowing a sanctioned Russian “shadow fleet” tanker to deliver oil to Cuba, President Donald Trump said Sunday, effectively breaking his de facto blockade. “If a country wants to send some oil into Cuba right now, I have no problem with that, whether it’s Russia or not,” he told reporters on Air Force One.

Who said what

Trump’s administration has gone after Cuba “more aggressively than any U.S. government in recent history,” The Associated Press said. The oil blockade was “an effort to force regime change,” but it has had “devastating effects” on civilians, “leaving many desperate.” The delivery of the roughly 730,000 barrels of oil on the Anatoly Kolodkin tanker will “reduce pressure” on Havana as it faces “a looming economic collapse,” The New York Times said. It was “unclear why the White House” is allowing the tanker to reach the island, but the decision “avoids a potential thorny confrontation with Russia just off the coast of Florida.”

Trump’s Cabinet was “limited in what it could legally do to stop the tanker,” The Washington Post said. “Seizing or boarding a Russian vessel while simultaneously managing an active military conflict in Iran” would also “pour fuel on already volatile energy markets,” Brett Erickson with Obsidian Risk Advisors told the Post.

What next?

The Anatoly Kolodkin was expected to dock in Cuba by Monday morning. Erickson told Reuters that the “two and a half weeks of oil” on the Kolodkin “can be extended to about a month in total.” The 730,000 barrels “buys them time” in Havana, University of Texas oil expert Jorge Piñón told the Times. “But this is not a magic wand.”

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TOPICS: Cuba; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events; Russia
KEYWORDS: cuba; oil; russia

[MarlonRando]

Cuba has been approaching economic collapse since I was a child

[whitney69]

Trump proved his point. He can afford to assist the civilians trapped in the regime that is blowing up in their face. Many have forgotten that Trump has assisted in “ending” or brokering cease fires in eight conflicts during his second term. Here is another case of his offering to assist in the peaceful changing of the guard in Cuba that has been so destructive and harmed a lot of their citizens. That is obvious as over 110K, have braved the waters to get to the US in vehicles that were dangerous at best.

wy69

[bigbob]

A gift to the Cuban people by El Donaldo Trumpo

[Texas Eagle]

Fill it with Cuba’s “leaders” when it heads back.

[McGruff]

Think Putin asked for permission?

[Midwesterner53]

I guarantee the first to benefit from this delivery will be the elite. Shame on Trump for backing down!

[WellyP]

Trump has shown the Cuban dictators and the Cuban people that he can turn the lights on and off and the island bosses, Russia and China are powerless to stop it.

[WellyP]

THE OIL IS FREE, RUSSIA ISN’T GETTING PAID!