FT: Russian oil tankers head to Cuba despite Trump energy embargo

Two vessels carrying Russian oil and fuel are expected to arrive in Cuba as early as next week, potentially marking the first energy deliveries to the island in three months despite a tightening energy embargo imposed by US President Donald Trump.

According to maritime intelligence firms, cited by The Financial Times, the shipments come as Cuba faces a deepening energy crisis. The country recently experienced a nationwide blackout after its power grid collapsed, with electricity only gradually restored the following day. The situation has further strained an already fragile economy.

One of the vessels, the Hong Kong-flagged Sea Horse, is believed to be transporting approximately 27,000 tonnes of Russian fuel. After diverting its route last month, it is now heading toward Cuba and is expected to arrive on Monday, according to Samir Madani, co-founder of TankerTrackers.com.

A second tanker, the Russian-flagged Anatoly Kolodkin, is carrying around 100,000 metric tons of crude oil—equivalent to roughly 725,000 to 728,000 barrels depending on grade—and is projected to reach the island on April 4.

The expected deliveries come amid escalating political tensions. Earlier this week, Trump заявил: “have the honour of taking Cuba in some form,” having previously suggested a “friendly takeover” of the country.

“Whether I free it, take it, I think I could do anything I want with it, if you want to know the truth,” he told reporters at the White House. “They are a very weakened nation right now.”

Speculation is growing that Washington is attempting to force the removal of Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who recently confirmed that Havana is in talks with the US administration in an effort to end the energy blockade.

Cuba’s last known fuel delivery was an oil shipment from Mexico on January 9, after which supplies halted. Mexico is believed to have suspended shipments under pressure from Washington, while deliveries from Venezuela—long a key supplier—stopped after US forces detained President Nicolás Maduro.

On Tuesday, Díaz-Canel warned that any “external aggressor” would face “impregnable resistance.”

“The United States publicly threatens Cuba, almost daily, with overthrowing the constitutional order by force,” he wrote on X. “They openly plan to seize the country, its resources, property and even the economy they are trying to suffocate, to force our defeat.”

Russia, meanwhile, reaffirmed its support for Havana. The foreign ministry stated that “Russia reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with the government and fraternal people of Cuba.”

Data from maritime analytics firm Kpler indicates that both vessels are carrying Russian-origin fuel, including Urals crude.

Cuba produces only about 40 per cent of the oil it needs domestically and has long relied on imports from allied nations to sustain electricity generation, transport, tourism, and agriculture. The collapse of supply lines has pushed the country deeper into crisis, with widespread blackouts disrupting hospitals, food distribution, waste collection, and air travel.

In response, Cuban authorities have promoted renewable energy initiatives, including solar panel installations described by state media as “the light and energy that they can’t blockade.” The government has also sought to attract investment from Cuban expatriates as part of efforts to expand the private sector, though longstanding US sanctions continue to limit broader economic engagement.

By Tamilla Hasanova