WASHINGTON, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The United States Coast Guard allowed a Russian-owned crude oil tanker to reach Cuba after months of oil blockade to the country, The New York Times reported Sunday.
The tanker, which is carrying an estimated 730,000 barrels of oil and is owned by the Russian government, was within several miles of Cuban territorial waters on Sunday evening, said the report, noting that it could reach its expected destination of Matanzas, Cuba, by Monday night.
The U.S. Coast Guard has two cutters in the region that could have attempted to intercept the Russian tanker, but the Trump administration did not order those vessels to act, a U.S. official briefed on the matter was quoted as saying.
"The Russian ship's arrival would shift the trajectory of a rapidly accelerating crisis in Cuba, buying the island nation at least a few weeks before its fuel reserves run out," the report said.
Since January, the Trump administration has imposed a new round of oil restrictions on Cuba and has repeatedly issued military threats. According to U.S. media reports, the administration is considering efforts to promote regime change in Cuba.
Speaking in Florida on Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump touted progress in its war against Iran, saying "Cuba is next."
On March 17, the Russian Foreign Ministry voiced serious concern over the mounting U.S. pressure on Cuba, pledging necessary support for the Caribbean island nation.
"Russia reaffirms its unwavering solidarity with the Cuban Government and its brotherly people. We firmly condemn attempts to grossly interfere in the domestic affairs of a sovereign state, intimidate it and engage illegal unilateral restrictive measures," the ministry said in a statement. ■
