Cuba has been added to the list of countries prohibited from trading in Russian oil
20 March 16:34
The United States has added Cuba to the list of countries prohibited from receiving Russian oil. The decision was made by the U.S. Department of the Treasury following reports that a tanker carrying Russian fuel was heading toward the island.
This was reported by Bloomberg , according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
What happened
The U.S. Department of the Treasury has published an updated general license regulating transactions involving Russian oil.
The document:
- expands the list of countries
- that are prohibited from participating in transactions involving Russian oil or petroleum products,
- including their sale, supply, or unloading.
Cuba is now included in this list.
Why the U.S. made this decision
The decision was made following reports that a tanker carrying Russian oil was heading toward the island.
According to data from the analytical firm Kpler Ltd:
- one Russian tanker is carrying approximately 700,000 barrels of oil;
- the vessel may arrive in Cuba by the end of the month.
These reports have raised concerns in Washington about the circumvention of sanctions against Russian energy exports.
Which other countries are subject to restrictions
The updated license also prohibits transactions involving Russian oil for:
- Iran
- North Korea
- Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine
In this way, the U.S. is attempting to hinder Russia’s access to alternative energy export channels.
Previous easing of restrictions on Russian oil
The new restrictions clarified the previous license issued a week earlier.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated at the time that Washington would temporarily allow the sale of Russian oil that had already been loaded onto tankers by March 12.
Initially, this exemption was granted only to India—one of the key buyers of Russian oil.
The Energy Crisis in Cuba
Cuba has been under U.S. sanctions for decades, which have been in place since the late 1950s.
According to media reports, recently:
- Russia has sent two tankers carrying oil and gas to the island;
- the shipments are taking place amid an energy shortage in Cuba.
Restrictions tightened by the Trump administration are making it difficult for the island to access international energy markets.
