Russia has pledged to continue its vital oil supplies to Cuba, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed on Wednesday, following a recent delivery of approximately 700,000 barrels of crude to the fuel-starved Caribbean nation.
The commitment comes as Cuba faces acute energy shortages, triggered after Washington halted oil exports from its main ally, Venezuela.
This move followed the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on 3 January, severely impacting the communist-ruled island of almost 11 million people.
President Donald Trump had previously threatened punitive tariffs on countries supplying crude to Cuba as part of efforts to pressure its government.
However, the US later permitted Moscow’s first oil delivery this year on humanitarian grounds. Another significant supplier, Mexico, has also ceased its shipments.
Speaking during a visit to China, Mr Lavrov reiterated that Russia would provide humanitarian aid to Cuba, its long-standing ally.
“We have dispatched the first tanker with 100,000 tons (700,000 barrels) of oil for Cuba. Of course, this will probably last for a couple of months – I’m not a specialist,” he told a briefing at the end of the two-day visit.
“But I have no doubt that we will continue providing such assistance, and that (China) will, of course, continue to take part in this cooperation as well,” added Lavrov, without referring to the issue of U.S. permission or not for future deliveries.
Cuba produces less than a third of the oil it requires.
Though it cleared the recent Russian delivery, the Trump administration said it would review further oil shipments to Cuba on a “case-by-case” basis.
Lavrov said he hoped the U.S. will not return to times of “colonial wars.”
Donald Trump previously indicated he has “no problem” with a Russian oil tanker delivering relief supplies to Cuba.
Speaking to reporters as he returned to Washington in late March, Trump said: “We have a tanker out there. We don’t mind having somebody get a boatload because they need… they have to survive.”
When questioned about a New York Times report suggesting the tanker would be permitted to reach Cuba, he added: “I told them, if a country wants to send some oil into Cuba right now, I have no problem whether it’s Russia or not.”