U.S. says Cuba is prohibited from taking Russian oil as two tankers head to island

[hookaleft]

Source: CNBC

The U.S. Treasury Department has said Cuba won’t 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 Treasury’s 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.

snip

Read more: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/20/cuba-crisis-fuel-tankers-russia-oil-gas-energy-us-trump.html

[mahatmakanejeeves]

1. Adding:

{snip}

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 Trump’s tariff threats, pointing out that Washington and Moscow “don’t have much trade right now.”

{snip}

[Whip-poor-will]

2. Trump's mouth

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]

3. Different Verse, Same as the First

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]

4. Then tell fat Nixon to do something about it

[groundloop]

5. What the fuck right do we have to tell another nation who they can or can't buy necessary supplies from?!?!?!

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.

[littlemissmartypants]

11. Thanks so much for sharing this. ❤️

[everyonematters]

6. This is what happens when you have a leader who is not capable of empathy.

He does not care how much the people of Cuba suffer.

[littlemissmartypants]

10. It's beyond that, though. He's going to fuck it up next.

Psychopaths thrive on chaos and destruction. His lack of empathy is no doubt disturbing, but it's the least of our worries.

Characteristics of Psychopaths

1. Aggressive, callous, and cunning
2. Complete absence of conscience and empathy
3. Very adept at manipulating others
4. Willingness to engage in immoral, criminal conduct
5. Willingness to take what they want and do as they please, regardless of who is hurt or wronged
6. Deceptive ability to appear outwardly benevolent
7. Deceptive ability to behave in superficially charming ways to hide purely selfish motives
8. Willingness to use intimidation and violence to control others in order to satisfy their own needs
9. Willingness to intentionally violate the basic inherent human rights of others
10. Complete absence of any sense of guilt or remorse for the harm their actions have caused to others
11. Rationalization of their own immoral behavior
12. Will attempt to lay blame upon someone else for their own conduct
13. Denial, will deny their own wrongdoing outright
14. Utter contemptuousness toward the feelings and desires of their fellow beings
15. Pathological lying, will say anything without any concern for truth to advance their own hidden agendas
16. Ablity to feign [fake] normal human emotions and empathy
17. Distorted sense of the consequences of their actions
18. Total failure to accept any responsibility for their own socially irresponsible ways
19. Strong bellef that they will never be brought to justice for their criminal behavior

[mysteryowl]

7. I remember Obama OPENED up trade & travel with Cuba and it helped that country.

More and more flights went to Cuba. People from US traveled there as tourists.
I think goods and services were exchanged too.

[Fla Dem]

8. What right does our Treasury Department have to prohibit Cuba from accepting Russian Crude?

DO we have any control over what Cuba does with any other nations? Seems to me it's a bit of an overreach.

In a general license published Thursday, the Treasury’s 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.

Who gave the us these licensing rights?

[TheRickles]

9. Seems like it would take a(nother) naval blockade to enforce this.