Chinese tanker with Russian diesel heads to Cuba despite US threats

The ship may arrive on the island in early March, despite US warnings about possible sanctions against countries that supply fuel to Havana.

The Hong Kong-flagged tanker Sea Horse, loaded with almost 200,000 barrels of Russian diesel fuel, is heading towards Cuba. Gospodarka Morska reports.

According to analytical companies Windward and Kpler, the cargo was transshipped in the open sea near Cyprus. The tanker is currently in the Sargasso Sea.

Cuba is experiencing an acute fuel shortage, which has already affected transport, electricity generation and the domestic sector. Due to large-scale power outages, the level of night lighting on the island, according to satellite data, has decreased by about half.

The situation has become more complicated after the US operation in Venezuela, a key supplier of oil to Cuba. After the events in Caracas, the United States called on the interim government to stop supplying energy to the island. President Donald Trump has also said he is prepared to impose tariffs on countries that continue to supply fuel to Cuba. Against this backdrop, Mexico, the second-largest supplier after Venezuela, has already stopped exporting fuel to Havana.

Meanwhile, analysts doubt that the Sea Horse will be able to complete the voyage. The United States has tightened controls in the region, and at least nine ships involved in the transportation of sanctioned oil have been unable to reach their destinations.

In January, Cuba did not receive imported crude oil for the first time in many years. It is estimated that existing supplies may last only until the end of March.

As a reminder, in November 2025, the Sea Horse tanker was already under the supervision of a US Navy ship and was briefly detained before heading to Venezuela.