Russia may test Trump’s Cuba’s blockade with oil tankers crossing Atlantic

## Summary
Energy & Environment Russia may test Trump’s Cuba’s blockade with oil tankers crossing Atlantic by Sophie Brams - 03/20/26 5:27 PM ET by Sophie Brams - 03/20/26 5:27 PM ET Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email NOW PLAYING Two vessels carrying Russian oil are reportedly heading for Cuba in the coming days in a move that could test President Trump’s longstanding blockade, according to the Financial Times , citing maritime intelligence companies. Cuba has plunged into a deep economic and energy crisis due to an oil embargo put in place by the Trump administration in January following the U.S. military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Díaz-Canel on Wednesday accused the U.S. of threatening the country “ almost daily ” and pledged to meet any potential aggression with “impregnable resistance,” days after Trump said he believes he will have the “honor” of taking over Cuba. “Whether I free it, take it, I think I can do anything I want with it,” Trump told reporters Monday . “You want to know the truth? Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email More Energy & Environment News See All Energy & Environment US lifts sanctions on Iranian oil stranded at sea by Sarah Davis 2 hours ago Energy & Environment / 2 hours ago Energy & Environment Fox News host presses Burgum over gas prices by Sarah Davis 3 hours ago Energy & Environment / 3 hours ago International UK allows US to use British bases to strike Iranian sites targeting Strait of Hormuz by Sophie Brams 7 hours ago International / 7 hours ago Energy & Environment New York AG sues to uphold national emissions rules by Johan Sheridan 8 hours ago Energy & Environment / 8 hours ago See All Video/Hill.TV See all Hill.TV See all Video THE HILL TV Rising: March 20, 2026 by TheHill.com 03/20/26 12:04 PM ET THE HILL TV / 11 hours ago Rising Rising: March 19, 2026 by TheHill.com 1 day ago Rising / 1 day ago Rising Rising: March 18, 2026 by TheHill.com 2 days ago Rising / 2 days ago See all Hill.TV See all Video Top Stories See All Defense GOP braces for Trump to possibly deploy troops inside Iran by Filip Timotija 4 hours ago Defense / 4 hours ago See All Most Popular Senate passes measure prohibiting preferential airport screening for lawmakers GOP braces for Trump to possibly deploy troops inside Iran GOP senator suggests 2-step move to break DHS funding deadlock US speeds up deployment of thousands more Marines, sailors to Middle East Iran threatens world tourism sites White House seeks to circumvent Schumer on potential DHS funding deal The Memo: Frustrated Trump struggles against perception that he’s losing ...

## Article Content
Energy & Environment
Russia may test Trump’s Cuba’s blockade with oil tankers crossing Atlantic
by
Sophie Brams
- 03/20/26 5:27 PM ET
by
Sophie Brams
- 03/20/26 5:27 PM ET
Share
✕
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Email
Email
NOW PLAYING
Two vessels carrying Russian oil are reportedly heading for Cuba in the coming days in a move that could test President Trump’s longstanding blockade, according to
the Financial Times
, citing maritime intelligence companies.
One of the tankers making its way to the Caribbean island is Sea Horse, a Hong Kong-flagged ship estimated to be carrying approximately
190,000 barrels of gasoil
from Russia, according to tracking from maritime AI company Windward.
The Associated Press reported Thursday that another ship, the Russian-flagged Anatoly Kolodkin, is roughly
3,000 nautical miles
from Cuba and expected to reach the island in 10 days.
Cuba has plunged into a deep economic and energy crisis due to an
oil embargo
put in place by the Trump administration in January following the
U.S. military operation
in Venezuela that
led to the capture
of President Nicolás Maduro.
The island’s
electrical grid collapsed
earlier this week, leaving nearly 11 million people in the dark for more than 29 hours before power was
partially restored
. The nation is also facing a worsening humanitarian crisis with limited access to food, water and medication.
The U.S. has sought to leverage economic pressure to
push political reform
in Cuba, with Trump
warning other countries
not to do business with the island nation.
The Treasury Department has maintained the blockade, even as it
eases sanctions
on some Russian and Venezuelan oil in a bid to
boost global supply
amid the conflict with Iran. Analysts have told The Hill that the Trump administration’s actions are
unlikely to have much of an effect
on surging prices and that the only meaningful way to do so would be to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
No shipments of oil have arrived on Cuba’s shores in three months, but that could change if the two tankers arrive as anticipated over the next several weeks.
Despite Trump’s threats, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Moscow was “ready to provide all possible assistance” to officials in Havana, according to
The Moscow Times
.
The potential escalation comes as the U.S. and Cuba
are holding discussions
to address “bilateral differences” and identify “areas of cooperation,” according to Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel.
Díaz-Canel on Wednesday accused the U.S. of threatening the country “
almost daily
” and
pledged to meet
any potential aggression with “impregnable resistance,” days after Trump said he believes he will have the “honor” of taking over Cuba.
“Whether I free it, take it, I think I can do anything I want with it,” Trump
told reporters Monday
. “You want to know the truth? They’re a very weakened nation now.”
Add as preferred source on Google
Tags
Anatoly Kolodkin
Cuba
Dmitry Peskov
Donald Trump
Manuel Díaz-Canel
Miguel Díaz-Canel
Nicolas Maduro
Sea Horse
Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Share
✕
LinkedIn
LinkedIn
Email
Email
More Energy & Environment News
See All
Energy & Environment
US lifts sanctions on Iranian oil stranded at sea
by
Sarah Davis
2 hours ago
Energy & Environment
/
2 hours ago
Energy & Environment
Fox News host presses Burgum over gas prices
by
Sarah Davis
3 hours ago
Energy & Environment
/
3 hours ago
International
UK allows US to use British bases to strike Iranian sites targeting Strait of Hormuz
by
Sophie Brams
7 hours ago
International
/
7 hours ago
Energy & Environment
New York AG sues to uphold national emissions rules
by Johan Sheridan
8 hours ago
Energy & Environment
/
8 hours ago
See All
Video/Hill.TV
See all Hill.TV
See all Video
THE HILL TV
Rising: March 20, 2026
by TheHill.com
03/20/26 12:04 PM ET
THE HILL TV
/
11 hours ago
Rising
Rising: March 19, 2026
by TheHill.com
1 day ago
Rising
/
1 day ago
Rising
Rising: March 18, 2026
by TheHill.com
2 days ago
Rising
/
2 days ago
See all Hill.TV
See all Video
Top Stories
See All
Defense
GOP braces for Trump to possibly deploy troops inside Iran
by
Filip Timotija
4 hours ago
Defense
/
4 hours ago
See All
Most Popular
Senate passes measure prohibiting preferential airport screening for lawmakers
GOP braces for Trump to possibly deploy troops inside Iran
GOP senator suggests 2-step move to break DHS funding deadlock
US speeds up deployment of thousands more Marines, sailors to Middle East
Iran threatens world tourism sites
White House seeks to circumvent Schumer on potential DHS funding deal
The Memo: Frustrated Trump struggles against perception that he’s losing ...
Judge rules Pentagon press policy under Hegseth unconstitutional
Senate GOP plows forward on SAVE America Act amid pressure from right
GOP Senate candidate on rising gas prices: ‘Maybe you take one less trip to ...
Judge dismisses Trump administration lawsuit over Californi

---

## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- Judge dismisses Trump administration lawsuit over California egg prices Jeffries says Democrats will oppose rule governing spy powers bill Still trailing by 23 votes, NC Senate leader asks for hand recount Obama’s former DHS secretary calls to end shutdown, pointing to Iran threat Jordan subpoenas prosecutor over case involving protest near Stephen Miller’s ...

### Implications
- Energy & Environment Russia may test Trump’s Cuba’s blockade with oil tankers crossing Atlantic by Sophie Brams - 03/20/26 5:27 PM ET by Sophie Brams - 03/20/26 5:27 PM ET Share ✕ LinkedIn LinkedIn Email Email NOW PLAYING Two vessels carrying Russian oil are reportedly heading for Cuba in the coming days in a move that could test President Trump’s longstanding blockade, according to the Financial Times , citing maritime intelligence companies.
- The U.S. has sought to leverage economic pressure to push political reform in Cuba, with Trump warning other countries not to do business with the island nation.
- No shipments of oil have arrived on Cuba’s shores in three months, but that could change if the two tankers arrive as anticipated over the next several weeks.
- Díaz-Canel on Wednesday accused the U.S. of threatening the country “ almost daily ” and pledged to meet any potential aggression with “impregnable resistance,” days after Trump said he believes he will have the “honor” of taking over Cuba. “Whether I free it, take it, I think I can do anything I want with it,” Trump told reporters Monday . “You want to know the truth?

### Expert Commentary
This article covers ago, trump, hours topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 912.