Russia to ship oil to Cuba in defiance of Trump tariff threat

Russia is preparing to ship oil to Cuba under the guise of “humanitarian aid” — brazenly defying President Trump’s warning that countries propping up the communist regime could be hit with punishing US tariffs.

The move signals a fresh geopolitical test from Vladimir Putin, as Trump ramps up economic pressure on hostile governments and works to choke off financial and energy lifelines to authoritarian regimes in the Western Hemisphere.

Moscow’s embassy in Havana told Russian media that the oil shipment is expected soon but refused to disclose volumes, as Cuba faces dangerously low fuel reserves that are designed to crank up the pressure on its regime.

A Cuban driver filling up his car’s gas tank at a service station in Havana on Feb. 3, 2026 amid an energy crisis on the island nation. REUTERS/Norlys Perez

Trump has recently warned foreign nations that supplying fuel to Cuba could trigger trade retaliation, part of a broader effort to hold the regime accountable for human rights abuses, economic repression, and its decades-long alignment with America’s adversaries.

That approach apparently has already worked on Mexico — the last country to deliver oil, on Jan. 9 — which has since frozen further shipments following Trump’s tariff threat. The US has also stopped Venezuela, once Cuba’s main oil benefactor, from exporting oil to Havana.

Cuba is now staring down one of its most severe fuel crises in years, with widespread blackouts, rationing, transportation breakdowns and mounting public unrest.

Analysts cited by Russian media warned the island could run out of fuel in roughly 20 days without new imports.

Russia last sent a major oil shipment to Cuba in February 2025, delivering about 100,000 tons of crude under a $60 million state-backed loan personally approved by Putin.

The shipment could escalate tensions between Washington and Moscow, while putting more Russian tankers at risk of sanctions, seizures or other enforcement actions as Trump intensifies pressure on adversarial powers.

Critics argue Russia’s “humanitarian” framing is little more than propaganda — a strategic play to keep a longtime Cold War–era ally alive while expanding Kremlin influence in America’s backyard.