Russia considers fuel support for Cuba as Canada pledges food aid
Russia is weighing new fuel shipments to Cuba as tensions grow over US restrictions on oil supplies to the island.
Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said Wednesday that Moscow is discussing the possibility of providing fuel to Cuba, according to Russia’s RIA state news agency. His comments follow a recent statement from Russia’s deputy foreign minister indicating that “material supplies” would be sent to support the country.
Until recently, Russia had been one of Cuba’s main oil suppliers, alongside Mexico and Venezuela. However, Cuba’s fuel supply was disrupted last month following a US operation targeting Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
On January 3, the United States launched a military operation aimed at detaining Maduro. Soon after, US President Donald Trump announced plans to cut off Cuba’s access to Venezuelan oil and related financial resources. On January 29, he signed an executive order threatening tariffs on countries that ship oil to Cuba.
The measures have drawn international concern. The United Nations has warned of the risk of a humanitarian “collapse” in Cuba if fuel shortages continue. Russia and Mexico have sought ways to negotiate around the restrictions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the US executive order as “unacceptable” during a meeting in Moscow with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla.
Cuba’s economy has long struggled under a US embargo dating back to the Cold War and its alliance with the Soviet Union. In recent years, economic pressures, political tensions, and the collapse of tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic have fueled unrest and large-scale migration. An estimated two million people—more than 10 percent of the population—have left the country.
The current fuel blockade is expected to deepen those challenges. Cuba’s electricity grid depends largely on fossil fuels, yet the country produces only about 40 percent of the fuel it needs, leaving it heavily reliant on imports. The Trump administration has signaled that it would like to see Cuba’s communist government fall, though analysts warn that tightening supply restrictions could severely impact ordinary citizens.
While Russia and China remain close partners of Cuba, their material support has so far been limited.
On Wednesday, Canada pledged 8 million Canadian dollars (about $6.7 million US) in food aid to Cuba. Foreign Minister Anita Anand said the assistance would be delivered through the World Food Programme and UNICEF. She noted that the decision was not discussed with the United States.
Mexico also sent a second shipment of humanitarian aid to Cuba this week. Two Mexican navy vessels departed from the port of Veracruz carrying 1,193 tons of supplies, according to Mexico’s foreign ministry. Earlier in the month, Mexico delivered more than 814 tonnes of food and hygiene products in an initial shipment.
At the same time, Washington has signaled a possible adjustment to its policy. In early February, the US announced $6 million in humanitarian aid for Cuba, to be distributed through intermediaries such as the Catholic Church rather than the Cuban government. On Wednesday, the administration also said it would issue a special license allowing Venezuelan oil to be resold to Cuba, provided the transactions are directed toward supporting the Cuban people rather than state institutions.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveled to Saint Kitts and Nevis for a meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), a regional political and economic bloc with which Cuba maintains ties.
Ahead of the meeting, Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness called for a unified regional response.
“Humanitarian suffering serves no one,” Holness said, warning that a prolonged crisis in Cuba could have broader consequences. “It will affect migration, security and economic stability across the Caribbean basin.”
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