Trump says he doesn't care if Cuba receives Russian oil: "They have to survive"
In statements to reporters aboard the presidential plane this Sunday, Trump dismissed the idea that the arrival of crude oil in Cuba would have any impact on the island's current situation.
TL;DR
- Donald Trump stated he does not care if Cuba receives crude oil from a Russian tanker.
- He believes the Cuban people "have to survive" and that the current regime is "bad, corrupt leadership."
- Trump acknowledged that the oil shipment will not impact the island's situation, stating the government is "finished."
- He prefers to give the island some relief from the energy blockade imposed by his administration.
- The Russian oil tanker, Anatoly Kolodkin, is sanctioned by both the U.S. and the EU.
- The arrival of the oil is expected to alleviate Cuba's energy crisis, worsened by U.S. sanctions.
- Russia had previously stated it was considering sending crude oil to Cuba for humanitarian reasons.
- Trump signed an executive order in January threatening tariffs on those supplying oil to Cuba.
- The U.S. has been pressuring Havana to negotiate reforms by cutting off its oil imports.
- Cuba requires approximately 100,000 barrels of oil daily, with about 40,000 from domestic production, leading to power outages and economic paralysis.
- The sanctioned tanker is currently near Cuba and expected to enter Cuban waters soon.