Topline
The White House said the Trump administration allowed Cuba to receive a Russian oil tanker, despite a blockade in place since January, for “humanitarian reasons” and that the policy remains in place.
Key Facts
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the tanker owned by the Russian government was allowed to Cuba “in order to provide humanitarian needs to the Cuban people,” adding, “there has not been a formal change in sanction policy.”
The U.S. in January threatened to place tariffs on any country that sent oil to Cuba, in an effort to force regime change there, leading to a fuel shortage and power blackouts that have dealt a blow to essential services, including hospitals.
The Kremlin on Monday announced a Russian-flagged oil tanker carrying a shipment of 100,000 tons of crude oil had arrived to the island.
Trump on Sunday told reporters, “if a country wants to send some oil to Cuba right now, I have no problem with that, whether it’s Russia or not,” adding, “Cuba is finished. They have very bad and corrupt leadership, and whether or not they get a boat of oil, it’s not going to matter.”
Key Background
Trump’s upending of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s regime led to the oil blockade in Cuba by cutting off shipments of oil from Venezuela, its primary provider. Trump then threatened to impose tariffs on any country that sent crude there, and Mexico also cut off oil shipments to Cuba.
Tangent
The Trump administration lifted oil sanctions on Russian oil exports earlier this month to ease fuel prices that have shot up during the Iran war, prompting bipartisan criticism. Adding to the backlash over the concessions, Russia is reportedly helping Iran in its war with the U.S., Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said repeatedly in recent days.
Russia Says Its Oil Tanker Has Arrived In Cuba After Trump Appears To Ease Blockade (Forbes)
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