President Donald Trump called Cuba a “chaos” and “failed country” but said people there needed help because of power outages.
The Cuban Missile Crisis is Testing Donald Trump and Marco Rubio
U.S. and Cuban pressure has intensified as Donald Trump and Marco Rubio shape Washington’s response.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump confirmed on March 29 his intention to allow Russian tankers to supply Cuba despite the blockade against the country.
The United States has blocked shipments from Venezuela, which supported Cuba before ousting former leader Nicolas Maduro. Reuters reported, citing the Cuban news site Cubadebate, that ship tracking data showed the sanctioned Russian-flagged tanker Anatoly Kolodkin was just off the eastern tip of Cuba and was due to arrive at the port of Matanzas on March 30.
“I told them that if a country wants to send oil to Cuba right now, I don’t care if it’s Russia or not,” President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on March 29. “It doesn’t matter if they get a ship with oil in it. Whether it’s Russia or any country, I want the oil to come in because the people need heating and cooling and everything else.”
The oil will come as a relief to Cuba, which has not received any oil imports in three months, according to President Miguel Diaz-Canel. Oil shortages have led to tight gasoline rationing, worsening the energy crisis and causing power outages across Cuba.
The New York Times reported on March 29, citing unnamed U.S. officials, that the Coast Guard had allowed a Russian sanctions tanker loaded with crude oil to arrive in Cuba.
President Trump reiterated his vow that Cuba would be next, but critics fear that could mean military action against Cuba after the military removal of Venezuela’s leader and the US and Israel’s war against Iran. Trump said “next” could mean helping to free them, or it could mean “taking them.”
President Trump said, “Cuba is in chaos.” “This is a failing country. It’s going to fail eventually. We’re there to help it.”
President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whose parents are Cuban immigrants, have said the country’s prosperity requires overhauling or replacing the communist government.
“If other countries want it, I don’t really care. It doesn’t affect me. Cuba is finished. They have a bad government. Their leadership is very bad and corrupt.”
