Cuba Faces Economic Crisis as U.S. Seizes Venezuelan Oil Tanker

Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the U.S. seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker, the Skipper, as part of ongoing economic warfare against the island, highlighting that this incident exacerbates Cuba's energy crisis.

The tanker was reportedly intercepted while carrying oil from Venezuela, critical for Cuba's energy needs, as the island relies heavily on Venezuelan crude, which constitutes a significant portion of its fuel supply.

According to The Straits Times, Cuba has struggled with daily blackouts and reduced oil imports, with Venezuelan shipments dropping from 32,000 barrels per day last year to 27,000 this year. The U.S. actions are seen as a continuation of a strategy initiated during the Trump administration, aimed at crippling Venezuela's oil exports to Cuba, further putting Cuba's energy security at risk.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury recently imposed sanctions on six vessels associated with Venezuelan oil transport, indicating that more interceptions are planned, which could severely impact Cuba's already fragile economic situation.

Cuba's state oil company, Cubametales, has been under U.S. sanctions since 2019 for its role in importing Venezuelan oil, complicating the island's attempts to secure fuel amid tightened restrictions. The seizure of the Skipper is viewed not only as a direct threat to Cuba's energy supply but also as an escalation in the U.S. strategy to undermine the Cuban government by targeting its oil access.