U.S. says Cuba is prohibited from taking Russian oil as two tankers head to island
Source: CNBC
The U.S. Treasury Department has said Cuba wont be allowed to take delivery of Russian crude, even as the fuel-starved island appears poised to receive two tankers carrying oil and gas.
In a general license published Thursday, the Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) added Cuba to a list of countries that would be blocked from transactions involving the sale, delivery or offloading of crude or petroleum products that originate from Russia.
The U.S. had temporarily authorized the purchase of Russian oil stranded at sea last week, as part of an effort to stabilize energy markets during the U.S. and Israeli-led war on Iran. The short-term measure suspended sanctions that were first imposed on Moscow following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The update comes as maritime intelligence providers have been tracking two tankers carrying Russian oil and gas heading toward Cuba.
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Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/20/cuba-crisis-fuel-tankers-russia-oil-gas-energy-us-trump.html
mahatmakanejeeves
(69,519 posts)The tanker Sea Horse is one of the vessels making its way to Cuba, according to maritime intelligence firm Windward. The Hong Kong-flagged ship is estimated to be carrying around 190,000 barrels of Russian gasoil and tracking suggests it could be set to deliver its cargo in the coming days.
The tanker has been engaged in deceptive shipping practices, an analysis published Wednesday by Windward found, including switching off its location transponders (or AIS spoofing) during oil transfer, and it lacks Western insurance, which Windward says indicates potential sanctions circumvention.
A second Russian-flagged oil tanker, the sanctioned Anatoly Kolodkin, is also thought to be on its way to Cuba carrying 730,000 barrels of crude oil, maritime analytics firm Kpler said Wednesday, according to AFP. CNBC has contacted Kpler and is awaiting a response.
The shipments represent an act of defiance to the U.S., given that Washington has threatened to impose tariffs on any country that supplies it with oil. The Kremlin has previously shrugged off Trumps tariff threats, pointing out that Washington and Moscow dont have much trade right now.
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Whip-poor-will
(177 posts)Pro tip buddy
Don't write a check with your mouth your ass can't cash.
With the Golden Fool we may finish the military madmen 's dream solving the Cuban Missile Crisis with nuclear annihilation .
Don't it feel like a ride on the Titanic with a Golden Clown perched on the bow saying.........
OutNow
(915 posts)I was 11 years old when the US Navy instituted a navel blockade around Cuba to stop Soviet ships from landing in Cuba, It was missiles last time around, not oil tankers, but .. whatever. Everyone, even 11 year old school kids were holding their breath, wondering if WW3 would kill us all. Back then the leaders of our country and the Soviet Union were fierce enemies. Berlin airlift, Hungarian uprising, cigar smoking Cuban leaders. Somehow they sorted it out - the solution was take the missiles out and we promise to not invade Cuba.
That was then. This is now. Our leader is a senile faschist, there's is a blood thirsty war monger. I'm not so sure cooler heads will prevail this time because there aren't any cooler heads anymore. And, unlike my 11 year old self, I'm too old to hide under my desk this time. Shit.
Ray Bruns
(6,303 posts)groundloop
(13,802 posts)Dear Leader is hell bent on showing how tough he is, all he's doing is hurting people who have already dealt with our idiotic trade embargo for many many years. The people of Cuba don't deserve this.
I was lucky enough to visit Cuba in 2019 before the orange anus made that illegal.




everyonematters
(4,125 posts)He does not care how much the people of Cuba suffer.
mysteryowl
(9,279 posts)More and more flights went to Cuba. People from US traveled there as tourists.
I think goods and services were exchanged too.
Fla Dem
(27,602 posts)DO we have any control over what Cuba does with any other nations? Seems to me it's a bit of an overreach.
Who gave the us these licensing rights?