The United States (U.S.) has allowed a Russian oil tanker into Cuba in spite of an existing fuel blockade, President Donald Trump confirmed.
“If a country wants to send some oil into Cuba right now, I have no problem, whether it’s Russia … and if other countries want to do it,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned to Washington from a weekend at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida, the Washington Post reported.
“One boatload of oil, that’s all it is,” Trump added.
Russia, a long-time ally of Cuba, welcomed Trump’s change of heart.
“We are pleased that this shipment of petroleum products has already arrived on the island,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Russian news agencies.
He added that there had been prior contact with U.S. officials on the matter.
Russia was working to send even more oil to Cuba.
Cuba has faced a severe economic crisis for years, which has been exacerbated over the past three months by a U.S. oil embargo.
Earlier this month, Trump hinted at a possible takeover of the socialist-run island, telling reporters that he thought he would have the “honour of taking Cuba.” For weeks, Trump has been repeating that Cuba is on the brink of collapse.
Cuba has lost its main oil supplier, Venezuela, since U.S. special forces arrested President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas in early January.
On Sunday, the New York Times reported that the U.S. Coast Guard had allowed a Russian oil tanker to deliver its cargo – vital for the critical energy supply – to the Caribbean island.
Peskov explained that, under the blockade, Cuba needs support, including oil for power generation.
“Naturally, Russia considers it its duty not to stand idly by and to provide our Cuban friends with the necessary assistance,” he said.
This also includes medical supplies.
