US Allows Russian Tanker to Send Oil to Cuba Bypassing Blockade

JAKARTA - The United States has allowed a Russian tanker to send crude oil to Cuba amid a months-long energy blockade against the Caribbean country.

The tanker, which was carrying about 730,000 barrels of crude oil, is expected to dock at the Matanzas oil terminal in Cuba on Tuesday.

The New York Times report said the oil shipment could sustain Cuba's energy needs for several weeks before its fuel reserves ran out.

As reported by ANTARA from Anadolu, Monday, March 30, the oil supply will also reduce pressure on the Cuban government, which is facing an economic collapse.

In January, the US government imposed an oil blockade on Cuba, while threatening countries that send fuel to the country.

In one incident, the US even expelled a tanker heading to Cuba. However, in this latest case, there was no order to stop the Russian tanker.

According to the NYTimes report, the US Coast Guard has two patrol boats in Cuban waters that could intercept Russian tankers, but this was not done.

The decision is considered to avoid direct confrontation with Russia, at least for now.

The US oil blockade has exacerbated Cuba's conditions, causing power outages, fuel shortages, price spikes, and deteriorating health services.

The UN has criticized the US policy and assessed that the move led to a humanitarian crisis in Cuba.

In the midst of this situation, US President Donald Trump reportedly wants to overthrow Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel.

Trump even said he "had the honor to take over Cuba" and hinted at using military force against the country after the war against Iran.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also stressed the need for changes in the government system in Cuba as part of economic reforms.

"The Cuban economy needs to change, and their economy cannot change unless their system of government changes," he said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Cuban government expressed its readiness to face the United States.

"Our military is always ready and, in fact, is currently preparing for the possibility of a military aggression," Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernandez de Cossio told NBC News.

However, de Cossio expressed his hope that this would not happen.