Cuba energy crisis: Russia sends emergency oil 'lifeline' as US sanctions tighten

Russia plans to dispatch a shipment of oil and petroleum products to Cuba as humanitarian aid, at a time when the island nation is facing a severe fuel crisis. The announcement was made by the Russian embassy in Havana, according to a report by the newspaper Izvestia.

Recommendations for Russian tourists and emergency flights

Simultaneously, the Russian Ministry of Economic Development has advised Russian tourists to avoid traveling to Cuba, citing the "emergency situation" in the energy sector. The Russian embassy announced via Telegram that it is in coordination with Aeroflot and Cuban civil aviation authorities to ensure the safe return of Russian citizens. Aeroflot has committed to organizing special flights from Varadero and Havana to Moscow.

Worsening crisis and the role of the US

Cuba's already dire energy situation deteriorated further following the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by the US military on January 3. Venezuela had been one of Cuba's primary oil suppliers. On January 29, the United States signed an executive order allowing Washington to impose tariffs on products from countries that supply oil to Cuba. The same document declared a state of emergency, citing an alleged threat from Cuba.

Harsh reaction from Havana

The Foreign Minister of Cuba, Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, strongly condemned the US measures. As he stated, these actions could lead to a "total blockade of energy supply" to the country and "violate every principle of international trade," creating "extreme living conditions" for the Cuban people. The dispatch of Russian energy aid highlights the geopolitical dimension of the crisis, with Cuba at the center of a new energy and diplomatic confrontation between Moscow and Washington.

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