U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to the media after departing Air Force One at Miami International Airport on March 27, 2026 in Miami, Florida.
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U.S. President DonaldTrumpsignaled he was reversingcourseon blockingoilshipments to Cuba on Sunday, saying he had “no problem” with any country sending in crude as aRussiantankerneared aCubanport with a badly needed shipment.
A sanctionedRussianvessel, part of the country’s “shadow fleet,” was just off the coast of eastern Cuba on Sunday, according to ship tracking data, and was expected to reach port on Monday, a lifeline for the country’s economy that has nearly ground to a halt under a de factooilblockadeimposed by Washington.
The U.S. cut off Venezuelanoilexports to Cuba after toppling Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on January 3, andTrumpthreatened to slap punishing tariffs on any other country that sent crude to Cuba. Mexico, the largest supplier to Cuba along with Venezuela, then halted its shipments.
As a result, Cuba has not received anoiltankerin three months, according to President Miguel Diaz-Canel, exacerbating an energy crisis that has led to strict rationing of gasoline and a series of blackouts across the country of 10 million people.Cubanhealth officials say the crisis hasincreased the mortality riskforCubancancer patients, especially children.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One,Trumpexpressed sympathy for theCubanpeople’s need for energy and said he was unconcerned with any assistance it might provide the Communist government in Havana because he predicted it would soon fall on its own.
“If a country wants to send someoilinto Cuba right now, I have no problem with that, whether it’s Russia or not,”Trumpsaid.
“Cuba is finished. They have a bad regime. They have very bad and corrupt leadership, and whether or not they get a boat ofoil, it’s not going to matter,”Trumpsaid. “I’d prefer letting it in, whether it’s Russia or anybody else, because the people need heat and cooling and all of the other things that you need.”
While expressing concern forCubans,Trumphas issued a series of threatening statements against theCubangovernment and said he would turn more of his attention to the country 90 miles (150 km) from U.S. shores after dealing with Iran.
Oil cargo could shore up Cuba for a month
Earlier in March, the U.S.temporarily easedsanctionson Russia to help improve the global flow ofoilthat has been restricted by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. However, that measure also created exemptions that explicitly banned transactions involving Cuba and other places such as Iran, North Korea and Crimea.
The Anatoly Kolodkin departed from Russia’s Primorsk port carrying some 650,000 barrels of crude, LSEG ship-monitoring data showed. Other reports said the vessel contained 730,000 barrels.
The officialCubannews outlet Cubadebate called theRussianshipment a direct challenge to the U.S.oilblockade, after theRussiannavy escorted the sanctioned vessel through the English Channel on its way to the Caribbean.
The New York Times, citing a U.S. official briefed on the matter, reported the U.S. Coast Guard allowed the sanctioned vessel to sail to Cuba, though it was unclear why. Blocking thetankerby force, however, could have escalated the risk of conflict with Russia at a precarious time in geopolitics.
Brett Erickson of the consulting firm Obsidian Risk Advisors said the arrival of the Anatoly Kolodkin was significant in light of the British government allowing another ship from Russia’s shadow fleet, the VAYU 1, topassthrough the English Channel after announcing last week it had authorized its military to board such shipspassing through UK waters.
He said Russia has been receiving a “very big windfall from the war in Iran,” while also providing crucially neededoilfor Cuba, whose strategic importance to Moscow has increased since the fall of allies in Syria and Venezuela and with Iran under attack.
“Havana doesn’t need very muchoilto operate. The Kolodkin is carrying about two and a half weeks ofoil, but that can be extended to about a month in total,” Erickson said, consideringCubanrationing.
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