The Hong Kong-flagged ship “Sea Horse” is scheduled to arrive in Cuba on March 23, and is supposed to carry 27,000 tons of Russian gas. On April 4, the Russian ship Anatoly Kolodkin, carrying more than 700,000 barrels of oil, is also scheduled to approach the island. About this Financial Times I mentioned Samir Madani, one of the founders of the tanker tracking service TankerTrackers.
If the ships arrive in Cuba, these will be the first energy shipments to the island in three months since the US authorities began the energy blockade on Cuba. Venezuela was the main importer of oil in Havana, but supplies from there were halted after the United States ousted President Nicolas Maduro in early January. In addition, at the end of January, Donald Trump threatened to increase tariffs on any country that supplies energy to Cuba.
The blockade was Cuba’s longest in at least 12 years and caused a massive energy crisis. He writes Bloomberg. Russian oil, if it reaches the island, would be a serious help to Havana. Cuba needs about 100,000 barrels of oil per day to function normally, but it produces only 40% of this volume. Since the start of the blockade, Cuba has used its imported oil reserves in addition to taking advantage of its small domestic production.
Against the backdrop of fuel and electricity shortages, Cuba began negotiations with the United States.
According to sources at The New York Times, the White House is seeking to remove Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel from power, in hopes of allowing structural economic reforms. They also say it would allow Donald Trump to claim victory over another leftist leader, such as Nicolas Maduro, who has long opposed the United States.
At the end of January, Trump said the United States could carry out a “friendly takeover” of Cuba. And this week it is maleAnd that he might “have the honor” of seizing Cuba in one way or another. “I think I can do what I want with it. This is a very weak country right now,” Trump said.