Venezuelan Oil Flows to Cuba Again Despite US Sanctions
The Biden administration has quietly allowed the sale of Venezuelan oil to Cuba, a move that could ease the island's fuel shortages. But the deal has strict limits to avoid aiding the Cuban government.
In a surprise reversal of its hardline policy, the Biden administration has quietly allowed the sale of Venezuelan oil to Cuba, a move that could ease the island's fuel shortages. However, the deal comes with strict limitations to avoid aiding the Cuban government and military.
The U.S. Treasury Department has issued licenses to a handful of entities to facilitate the sale of Venezuelan crude to Cuba, according to officials familiar with the matter. This marks a significant shift from the Trump administration's efforts to choke off Cuba's access to Venezuelan oil, a key source of energy for the cash-strapped Caribbean nation.
The change in policy reflects the Biden administration's attempts to balance its commitment to pressuring the Cuban government while also addressing the humanitarian crisis unfolding on the island. Cuba has faced severe fuel shortages in recent months, leading to power outages and transportation disruptions that have exacerbated the country's economic woes.
Source: Al Jazeera
