Donald Trump has indicated he has “no problem” with a Russian oil tanker delivering relief supplies to Cuba, an island nation severely impacted by a U.S oil blockade.
The statement comes despite his administration’s aggressive stance towards the Caribbean country.
Speaking to reporters as he returned to Washington, Trump said: “We have a tanker out there. We don’t mind having somebody get a boatload because they need… they have to survive.”
When questioned about a New York Times report suggesting the tanker would be permitted to reach Cuba, he added: “I told them, if a country wants to send some oil into Cuba right now, I have no problem whether it’s Russia or not.”
On Monday, Russia’s Transport Ministry confirmed the arrival of the oil tanker Anatoly Kolodkin at the Cuban port of Matanzas, carrying approximately 730,000 barrels of oil described as “humanitarian supplies.”
The vessel itself is subject to sanctions by the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom following the conflict in Ukraine.
Trump’s government has adopted a more aggressive approach towards Cuba than any U.S administration in recent history, effectively cutting off key oil shipments in an effort to force regime change.
This blockade has had dire consequences for Cuban civilians, leaving many in desperate circumstances, despite claims from Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio that they aim to assist the population.
Island-wide blackouts have roiled Cubans already grappling with years of crisis, and lack of gasoline and basic resources has crippled hospital and slashed public transport.
Experts say the anticipated shipment could produce about 180,000 barrels of diesel, enough to feed Cuba’s daily demand for nine or 10 days.
Island-wide blackouts have roiled Cubans already grappling with years of crisis, and lack of gasoline and basic resources has crippled hospital and slashed public transport.
Cuba has long been at the heart of geopolitical tug-of-war between the U.S. and Russia, dating back decades. Trump on Sunday dismissed the idea that allowing the boat to reach Cuba would help Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“It doesn’t help him. He loses one boatload of oil, that’s all it is. If he wants to do that, and if other countries want to do it, it doesn’t bother me much,” Trump said.
“It’s not going to have an impact. Cuba’s finished. They have a bad regime. They have very bad and corrupt leadership and whether or not they get a boat of oil, it’s not going to matter.”
He added: “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.”
