In what many analysts are calling a tactical “pressure valve,” President Donald Trump stated from Air Force One that he has “no problem” with the Russian vessel delivering its cargo. After months of an energy stranglehold that has left the island with blackouts lasting up to 30 hours and the national electrical system in shambles, Washington appears to have made a move to prevent a total collapse with unpredictable consequences.
Trump’s statement: “If a country wants to send oil to Cuba right now, I have no problem with it… They have to survive. But Cuba is finished, it will be the next to fall.”
Credit: ElHispanoParaTodos/PRESS
Details on the “Anatoly Kolodkin”
- Cargo: Approximately 730,000 barrels of crude.
- Origin: Dispatched from the port of Primorsk, Russia, on March 8.
- Destination: Port of Matanzas, Cuba (scheduled to arrive Tuesday, March 31, in the morning).
- Escort: Was followed by the British Navy in the English Channel before crossing the Atlantic.
2. A Real Breath of Relief or Just a Pause in the Agony?
Cuba consumes about 100,000 barrels per day to function at a minimum. Of those, it produces only 40,000. The Russian shipment theoretically represents just one week of energy relief if consumed at the usual rate, though with current rationing, it could stretch a bit longer.
- The Venezuela factor: Since the U.S. military intervention in Venezuela (in January 2026) captured Nicolás Maduro, the flow of Venezuelan crude to the island has been nearly completely cut off, triggering the current crisis.
- Russia’s stance: For Putin, this is an image victory. It demonstrates that Russia “does not abandon its friends” despite being embroiled in its own conflicts and sanctions.
3. Geopolitical Analysis: Why Now?
Let’s not fool ourselves. This “permissiveness” from the White House is not charity. Experts suggest three reasons:
- Avoiding migratory chaos: A total collapse of Cuba’s electrical grid could trigger a wave of refugees toward Florida that Trump does not want to manage at this time.
- Focus on other fronts: With the U.S. conducting military operations against targets in Iran (following the start of hostilities this month), opening a direct confrontation with Russian vessels in the Caribbean could be “too much logistical noise.”
- Psychological pressure: By saying it “doesn’t matter because they’re already finished,” Trump aims to demoralize the Díaz-Canel government, suggesting the oil is a “last wish” before the regime change Washington is promoting.
Image: ElHispanoParaTodos/PRESS
