The U.S. is allowing a Russian tanker full of crude oil to reach Cuba, the New York Times reported on Sunday, possibly granting a lifeline to the Caribbean island amid a de
The U.S. is allowing a Russian tanker full of crude oil to reach Cuba, the New York Times reported on Sunday, possibly granting a lifeline to the Caribbean island amid a de facto oil blockade imposed by Washington.
Ship tracking data showed the Russian-flagged tanker Anatoly Kolodkin on Sunday was just off the eastern tip of Cuba.
The Times report, citing a U.S. official briefed on the matter, said it was unclear why the U.S. Coast Guard was allowing the shipment to go through. A move by Washington to block the tanker by force, however, could have raised tensions at sea with Russia.
The Coast Guard referred queries on the matter to the White House, which did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment.
U.S. President Donald Trump has effectively blocked all oil shipments to Cuba in an attempt to pressure the government in Havana. Separately, the U.S. temporarily eased sanctions on Russia to help improve the flow of oil that has been restricted by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.
In the meantime, the Anatoly Kolodkin has been making its way to Cuba. The vessel departed from Russia's Primorsk port carrying some 650,000 barrels of crude, LSEG ship-monitoring
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